The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
THE POTATO QUESTION INTRODUCED AT
THE MEETING Of SOMERSET POMONA
Are Raising Tubersa More Attractive Prop
osition Than General Farming

The big "eight-wheeler" that left
Skowhegan on the electric road,
Tuesday Feb. 8. at nine o'clock in
the morning was crowded to the ex-
IRENE with members of Skowhegan
Grange who went up to attend the
regular February meeting of the Po-
mona held with Kennebec Valley
Grange, Madison. There were also
large delegations in attendance from
surrounding subordinate Oranges
while the patrons of kennebec Val
ley Grange were out in full num-
bers to welcome the Pomona. Every
officer of the Pomona was present
and also the Lecturer of the Maine
State Grange, 1t was big meeting
full of life, energy and enthusiasm
and every minute counted for the
good of the order in Somerset coun-
ty. Maytie w. Pratt, Master of
Kennebec Valley Grange. gave the
welcome address and H. L. Heald
Master of the Pomona. responded. G.
o. Purinton, Lecturer of the State
Grange, gave an address of much in
terest on women's work in the
Grange, woman suffrage and the
equal distribution of school money
throughout the State.
The potato question was introduce
ed by the Lecturer for consideration
and A H. Ellis presented a carefully
written paper on THE Story of the
Potato. 1t seems that the Potato
originated in the mountains of South
America and also species were
found wild in the western mountains
of the United States Because of
the great need and demand it has
spread over the civilized world and
been developed into the splendid pro-
duct we have today. THE potato
and their products" were presented
by Mrs. S. F. Emerson The most
essential products are a food for the
table, starch, a dressing for cotton
goods the production of alcohol and
yeast and are also beginning to be
used to make bread. The Lecturer
Kate B. Ellis mentioned the fact that
Germany produced about six times
as many potatoes as the. United
States and also spoke of their uses
in that country. THE attractive
ways of cooking potatoes was given
by Mrs. H. l.. Heald and THE nutra-
tive value of potatoes by Mrs. F. A.
Dinsmore. 1t is evident that the po-
tato as an article of food has taken
tables of all classes of people and
Mrs. Ellis presented an original
poem which applied to the eating of
more potatoes. Then came the ques-
ton Resolved that potato growing
is more attractive proposition for
central Maine than general farming
or other special crops The speak
ers were H. B. Ellis, X. A. Withee,
p. C. White c. o. Purinton. A. 5.
Burke, S. +. Emerson, Kate B. Ellis,
w. C. Hobart and A. H. Ellis. The
speakers were divided, some advising
farmers to hold right on to special
ty of planting year after year while
others claim that farmers make sad
mistake in doing SO and instead
should diversity their crops, raising
more corn. beans, hay and grain.
There were recitations by Victor
Pease and Marietta Pease; solos by
Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Forester; in
strumenta1 music by F. A. Dinsmore
and Mrs. Worcester; select reading
by Mrs. O. NJ Hilton and a paper on
THE Ideal Home by Carolyn Merry
and recitation by little Earle
Adams. Next meeting with North
Somerset Grange, Scion March 8.