92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



day actualities on the farm ; the lessons of the degrees are sublime. 

 In its fraternal bands it])inds together in one great family the tillers 

 of the soil. It enlists self-interest with the general interest and 

 general good. It gives mutual help for self help. 



In this State we have two hundred granges and fourteen thousand 

 members. Here is a factor in the case of practical cooperation 

 among farmers that is little understood. Here are two hundred 

 organized bodies of farmers meeting regularly, most of them once a 

 week ; then there are fourteen county granges electing monthly ; then 

 the head of all, the State Grange, meeting annually in December, so 

 it will be seen the State is well organized under the grange. It will 

 readil}' be seen what a factor for good these town, count}' and State 

 organizations ma}' be. If some law for general welfare of farming 

 is wanted, if some special branch needs particular encouragement 

 and fostering, here is a means, and an organization covering the 

 State everywhere to help it along. It is an organization of, for and 

 by the farmers. It is theirs. But when looking over the field, seeing 

 a town here and there without a grange, seeing also so man}' farmers 

 that are yet outside of the grange gates, I am reminded of the words 

 of one of the best and wisest among men : "He came unto his own and 

 bis own received him not." But the grange is growing, its principles 

 and its capabilities are being better understood, and there is every 

 reason to be encouraged. The grange is thoroughly organized and is 

 doing a great social, educational and cooperative work. It has its 

 trade arm with the Patrons' Cooperative Store at the head in Portland. 

 It has its mutual aid society in which life insurance is furnished at 

 ■cost. It has two strong mutual fire insurance companies where pro- 

 tection from loss by fire is offered at cost. It has its reading circles 

 and its newspapers and its literature. In its ranks are many of our 

 best farmers all over the State and nation and most of the promi- 

 nent agricultural men. The Patrons of Michigan have seen their 

 State Master made Governor of the State at the recent election, a 

 parallel to what happened to the State Master of Maine four years 

 ago. A good patron will make a good Governor anywhere. 



It is a great mistake not to have a grange in each town of the State, 

 and when they do get one started, it is a terrible blow to their best 

 interests not to give it a little time and attention in a patriotic man- 

 ner, and then not only themselves but all farmers will reap benefits 

 from it they do not now appreciate, because the effect of our subor- 

 dinate grange work all over the State and nation is of such a silent 



