The Washburn leader., 1914-04-10
THE GRANGE
Conducted by
J. ". BARROW, Chatham. N. r..
Editor Of the Ne,D York State Grunge
ReUietD
CONSTRUCTIVE WORK.

CUNS hUCIIve WUnN.
Massachusetts State Grange Has Out
lined commendabie Activities.
BY J. w. DARROW.
The lecturer OF the Massachusetts
state grange, Mrs. George 8. Ladd. Il
planning some constructive work fol
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 dll 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
crs' 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 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.-lncreasing the attendance
and support Of the church. This Is a
new idea to most grange workers. but
is an important consideration, never
thelcss. The church and the grange
can and should work together. Massa-
chusetts oranges will set apart one
Sunday as Church Rally day. with q
view to increasing the attendance OF
grange members ut 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 100000 valuation.
There are 40 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 weeks trip to Washington.
The young man is to show by results
in u written report what can be done.
taking into consideration location. cul-
tivation and selection Of crops. from q
half acre of land. The work and man
agement Of operations must be done by
che 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 OF
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 be
measured.
Here is an outline of some construc-
tive work which. as said before. should
bring results. The inactive grange is
likely soon to be in the dormant class.
The grange that serves it's community
best serves itself best and proves that
it has Il reason for being.-Rural New
Yorker.