Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-02-20
THE GRANGE
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Conducted by
}. W. BARROW. Chatham. N. Y,
Editor Of the NeiC York State Grange
RepicD
CONSTRUCTIVE WORK.
Massachusetts State Grange Has Out
lined CommendabIe Activities.

BY J. W. BARROW.
The lecturer of the Massachusetts
state grange, Mrs George S. Ladd, is
planning some constructive work for
the subordinate oranges of the state
for the present year. So important
does this work seem to be that would
like to have oranges in all states con-
slider the lines of work marked out by
Mrs. Ladd and of their own accord
adopt such of her suggestions as may
be of local application.
First is the Improvement Of the farm
ers' homes. The lecturer argues that
improvement In the home enhances
our respect for it and for ourselves
and its attractiveness will have some
thing to do with retaining the boys and
girls. The state grange offers weeks
trip to Washington to the farmers
wife who shall show In a written re-
port to the executive committee Of the
state grange the most helpful way Of
managing the farm home as to comfort,
convenience, economy and pleasure,
with statement as to the way the re-
suits were obtained.
Second. the attendance
and support Of the church. This is
new idea to most grange workers, but
is an important consideration, never
theless. The church and the grange
can and should work together Massa-
chusetts oranges will set apart one
| Sunday as Church Rally day, with a
view to increasing the attendance or
grange members at church, and for the
oranges showing the largest per cent
of church attendance according to
membership during the year certain
valuable prizes are to be awarded.
Third. There will be an effort to in
crease the efficiency of the rural
schools. A bill will be introduced in
: the legislature this winter for state
aid for the teaching of the practical
arts in the public schools in the small
towns of less than $l.000,O00 valuation
There are 10 such towns in Massachu-
sets. The oranges of this state will be
asked to support the bill.
Fourth. The local development of
agriculture One or two meetings will
be held early in the spring, which Will
be devoted to the discussion of the agri-
culture of the locality. as to best crops
to raise. best seed, fertilizer. method OF
cultivation and the marketing of the
crops To stimulate an interest in this
work among the young people the state
grange offers to the young man and the
young woman under eighteen years of
age each a weeks trip to Washington.
The young man is to show by results
in written report what can be done,
taking into consideration location. cul-
tivation and selection of crops, from a
half acre Of land. The work and man
agement of opera tons must be done by
the competitor, and he must keep an
itemized account Of all expenses and
state results attained. The young wo
man must do likewise" with poultry
fruit, flowers. bees or any other line OIL
farm work she may select
The fifth endeavor must be to In
crease attendance on grange meetings
for which two valuable prizes are Of
fered, and the sixth is to make study
of the states possibilities and re
sources with Massachusetts quality
as the motto and the standard by
which every grange endeavor is to bt
measured
Here is an outline Of some construc
tive work which, as said before, should
, bring results. The inactive grange II
{ likely soon to be in the dormant class
The grange that serves its community
best serves itself best and proves thai
, 1t has a reason for being.-Rural New
Yorker.