Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-25
Too Little Cultivated, Fault
Of American Farmer
Says Hon. E. P. Mayo at Far.
mers' Institute in Gardiner.
Gen. Patrick Hayes Of Chelsea Re.
spends to Welcoming Address.

culture, assisted by Gardiner Grange,
No. 459. +. of H.. opened in Grand
Army hall Tuesday forenoon and will
continue until Wednesday afternoon.
Owing to slight misunderstanding in
regard to the forenoon program it was
after IL o'clock before the meeting
opened. BY that time there was good
number in the hall, including patrons
from Gardiner CObbosseec and
Chelsea Oranges. and others not con-
nected with any Grange, but inter
eSted in the work of the Institute.
The meeting was called to order at
ITO by f. p. Mayo of Watervijle, and
the Invocation WAS offered by Rev L..
H. Clarke. The address of welcome by
Mrs. Bertha Beane. lecturer of Gardi-
ner Grange. gave a cordial welcome to
the workers OF the institute in behalf of
the Grange. which she represented. She
spoke as follow 50
Members Of tie Farmers Institute
visiting Patrons and Friends:
In behalf of Gardiner Grange | eX-
tend to you all q cordial welcome. 1t
is an especial pleasure to welcome you,
workers of the Institute, because of
what you represent, as wen as for the
assurance we feel of what the pro-
gram has in store for us by way of de-
ligh:ful and helpful instruction.
In these days, education is making
such immense progress in all directions
that we are beginning to understand
that in order to keep pace with the
rapid changes going on in the world,
the average man. the man on the farm,
in the shop, as we'll as the professional
man, must become a student. He must
keep track of the improvements that
are being made in his particular line
of work and in order to do SO he must
study in some systematic way the best
and most scientific methods; it will be
necessary all along the way to retain
the student habit with reference to the
practice of his occupation. -
Never before have there been = so
great efforts made to assist the farm
ers in the developmnt of the almost
untouched resources of the soil Gas we
are told) as at the present time.
The spirit Of cooperation is abroad
in the land and although of late we
hear much criticism as to the attempts
that are being made in this direction
the principle is of value. for to quote
the President of our great republic: "a
helping hand is often of great service
even when extended to those capable of
helping themselves
We rejoice that so much good has
been accomplished in the past score of
years by the Farmers Institutes, as
they have been practically the only
means, except the agricultural press, of
reaching directly the working farmers,
and giving them instruction in the
practice of agriculture.
We believe that this effort to carry
helpful Knowledge to the farms is in
line of highest duty and is accomplish
ing work CT the greatest value. because
the lessons can Immediately be applied
and become at once a means of hu-
man retirement.
art was given for that
God uses us to hclE each other SO,
Sending our minds out
This worlds no blot for us.
Nor blank. it means intensely and
means good:
TO find its meaning is my meat ard
drink"
We are glad visiting Patrons and
friends that you can enjoy with us
the benefits of these lectures, but we
trust that not all the pleasure and
profit may be unto us. who receive
but you. who have been assigned as
workers here NAV take away with you
some good be il ever so little. and only
pleasant memories of your stay in our
city.
The response was made by Gen. Pat
rick Hayes of Chelsea and was in the
old veterans happest vein. He was
greeted with warm applause as he rose
to speak. Gen. Hayes began by allud-
ing to the draft and said that it still
prevailed, although the war had long
sinve ended, for he had been drafted
when he came simply to listen, to
make the response. He was pleased to
come ard work with those present and
was sure that Gardiner Grange would
not fail in its customary hospitality
and would entertain the visitors to the
best of its ability
The principal address of the forenoon
was by Hon. f. p. Mayo OF Watervlile
and his subject was: agriculture
Abroad" The address was in the ma
ture of observations from an agrlcul-
tural standpoint uron recent trip to
Europe. He said that the fault with
the American farmer was that he cul-
tivated too much land and cultivated
i. too little He contrasted this method
with what he saw in the Channel Is
lands and the Isle of Jersey in partlc-
ular Mr.. Mayo also spoke of the work
of the French peasant women in caring
for the Perchercn horses and touched
upon the truck farms of Ireland.
Rev. L. H. Clarke followed Mr.. Mayo.
speaking eloquently upon the oppor-
tunities for the further development OF
agriculture in the State He cited the
farm of c. s. Pope in Manchester as
an example of what might be done
along this line.
Dinner was served Tuesday noon
and supper Tuesday night to the visi-
tors in the banquet room. of Grand
Army hall by a committee from Gar
diner Grange. consisting of Mrs. L. NJ
Bird, Mrs. G. r. Danforth, Mrs. A. F.
Preble and Mrs. James Peacock The
Gunner Wednesday will be served in
Foresters hall on account Of the ban
quet room of G. A. r. hall being used
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