The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-05-26
SOMERSET POMONA
Goes TO Scion and Holds the Regular
Nay Session with North Somerset
Grange

North Somerset Grange, Scion, has
recently completed and dedicated one
of the finest Grange halls either In
this State or any other. With beauty of
exterior and interior convenience and
comfort and arrangements for the spe-
cial benefit of lively enthusiastic and
harmonious Grange, the patrons at
5olon, as we'll as the citizens OF the
village, are to be congratulated that
such a beautiful structure has been
erected in their midst
The first Pomona session held in
this hall opened at 10 a. m, Tuesday
May 10. The Master, Oyerseer, Lee
turer, Steward, Asst. Steward, Chap
lain, Secretary, Pomona and Ceres
were the officers present. The vacant
chairs were supplied by appointment
of Ephraim Berry as Gate Keeper
Mrs. S. F. Emerson as Flora and Mrs
J. Lynn Viles as Lady Asst. Steward.
A communication was received from
the State Master, relative to holding
the annual Field Day of the Pomona
and it was voted to hold the same at
Lakewood Wednesday, Aug II, and
arrangements left i'll the hands of the
executive committee consisting of Will
lis c. Hobart, S. F. Emerson, o. A.
Salley and w B. Whittier.
An appropriate address of welcome
was given by Fred Magoon, Master of
the Scion Grange, and an eloquent
response by c. R. Oliver, Asst. Stew
ard of the Pomona. Both speakers
alluded to the new hall in their re-
marks and were happy in the thought
that the members of North Somerset
Grange have In future splendid
home of their own.
Two interesting topics for discus
sion were presented by the Lecturer,
L. L. Smith. First DO farmers re-
ceive as much benefit from Farmers
Institutes as they should compared
with the cost of running them?" Sec
ond, What can be done by farmers
in this vicinity to develope the re-
sources of their farms in the most
profitable manner?" The speakers
who took part in the discussion of
these important farm questions were
II. B. Ellis, Turner Buswell w. c..
Hobart, w. w. Russell, Fred Magoon,
H. B. Whipple, l.. C. Jewett, S. F.
Emerson, c. r, Oliver and j. Lynn
Viles. From the fact that it costs
s5.41 per town to support Farmers
Institutes annually, it was conceded
that farmers were not receiving a cor
responding benefit from them. One
speaker admitted that the farmers
themselves were in fault because they
do not take the interest they should
in the Institute meetings and fail to
attend them, comparatively few
attend and of course get no benefit
Then the information impaired is not
should be. There needs to be change
for the better all around and it is
hoped this will come about in time.
The second question occupied more
time and attention and seemed to be
the one which called out the best
thoughts of the speakers. Some were
thoughts of the speakers. Some were
of the opinion that farmers cannot
afford to raise beef; that corn can be
purchased cheaper than it can be
raised and that it costs so much to
keep an apple orchard in condition to
bear fruit ii was hardly a safe bust
ness to go into fruit raising. The
last two years had been SO hard on
the grass fields that the production of
hay has almost gone down and out;
the potato market was oyerdone and a
direct loss has struck nearly all farm
ers the past season in that branch of
industry, so that looking in all direc
tons it is difficult to decide what to
do. Other speakers agree that farm
ers need to face about and put stock
on their farms, raise more corn and
beans and grain and not run so wild
on the potato craze. The potato and
phosphate business is driving too
and depicting instead of increasing
the resources of the farm. There is
an opportunity to be directly benefited
by the discussion of these timely ques-
lions. There were beautiful songs
rendered by Lester Witham and Edith
w. Dorr; duets by Mr.. and Mrs. j.
Lynn Viles and music by a Grange
choir.
A class of fourteen was instructed
in the Pomona degree and admitted
as members.
The next meeting at Mercer, Tues
day, May "a.