Connecticut western news., 1909-08-26
CANAAN, CONN. THURSDAY. AUGUST 26. 1909
GRANGE MEETING
 WAS B|G SUCCESS
LAST FRIDAY AT EAST CANAAN
Two Hundred Patrons and Their Friends Enjoyed Field Day and Pic nic at the Henry C. Stevens Farm Speeches and Amusements.

HIC al kilE neilTJ O, Ole tcnS dI Hl
 Speeches and Amusements.
 A we'll attended and pleasant picnic and field meeting of Oranges in the vii cinity of Canaan was held with East Canaan Grange at the farm of Henry c. Stevens, Friday.
 The morning was devoted to social in- tercourse and an inspection of the historic spots in the East Canaan valley. The farm has been in the Stevens family for more than 150 years, having come down to the present owner through his wife, whose name was also Stevens. Before this generation the farm passed through two generations of the name of Nathaniel Stevens. In the past the place was famous dairy fairm; but at the present, under advancing years, MT. Stevens is doing less business than formerly.
 The Oranges invited to participate in the exercises of the day, besides the in viting Grange, were Sheffield, Win chester. Hollenbeck South Canaan) !, and Salisbury. There was an attend ance of about 200 Patrons and their friends. A bountiful collation. was served on the lawn by the members of the East Canaan Grange. About two o'clock all gathered on the lawn in front of the spacious piazza to listen to the address. First there was an address of welcome by Henry c. Stevens. o. s. Phelps, of Canaan, responded. R. H. Healey, State Master, of Woodstock, then spoke. He referred to the magni- tude of agriculture as national industry and it's importance in Connecticut. He said that agriculture is an intensive in- dustry i'll this State and made the state ment that the value, per acre, of corn, tobacco, and many garden products is larger here than in any other state. MT. Hsaley referred to forestry, sheep hls- bandry, and fruit culture 'as lines of farming possessing great possibilities, which have not yet been developed. The possibilities for improvement in farm conditions along the line of CO., operation through the Grange, was forci bly, set forth by the speaker. Parcels post" he said, according to the state ments of the national Grange Master, is being held back more by the apathy of the farmers than by any other one thing" Humorous selections, followed by Jones Allen of Colebrook.
 B. A. Peals, of Bristol, Overseer of the State Grange, spoke on the necessity of being intensive in all efforts in grange work, as well as in farm operations.
 Mrs. 0. s. Phelps, of Canaan, Flora of the State Grange, spoke on the value and pleasure of perrenial flower garden for the busy housewife on the farm. Henry O. Durham, of Middletown, secretaryASf the Patrons Fire Insurance Company spoke on the safety and economy of insurng farm buildings through the Grange insurance company He made point that the moral hazard of grange members carrying insurance was rated as less than for the general run of the insured. The economy of grange insurance, he said, was due to the small expenses for managing the company. 0. s. Phelps, of Canaan, spoke briefly on the work being done through the Grange Library Committee in placing circulating libraries among the granges. He said that these libraries were localed, so far as possible, among granges i'll towns hay ing meagre public library facilities.
 The speaking exercises were followed by short series of athletics consisting of potato race, the first prize being won by Joseph Beebe, of East Canaan, and hundred-yard dash, first prize gc- ing to David Rogers. The baseball game between the married and single men was won by the former, the score being 10 to '.
 Other exercises in the afternoon were cut short by the rain, but the field day and picnic was big success.