The Bossier banner., 1893-05-18
HORTICULTURE IN VERSE.
The Twelve Fundamental Rules of Fru
Cuifure.

The Twelve Fundamental Rules of FruiA
Culture.
Translated by Samuel Kaufman from m.
per read before the Horticultural society Of the
Canton of Berne, Switzerland
Have you any ground to spare?
Go plant fruit tree there.
The capital you thus invest
VIII bring you'hsndsome interest
Be sure and choose thrifty tree
Let it not spoiled or stinted be;
Straight. tapering trunk; bark smooth ana
sound
Well shaped fair sized the limbs around,
From top to base In prime condition;
Buy good home stock and save commission
Plant few varieties, but choose
The very best-the rest refuse.
Be careful not to plant too close.
Your profit not from numbers flows
Your trees require both light and space
That they may grow and thrive apace;
Set them, well, thirty feet apart
In rows arranged with studious art;
For years to come the orchard will
Attest the planters taste and skill
Dig three feet deep each planting hole,
Fix plumb" each stem with twine and poleS
The loose sward underneath you cast,
Fill up with earth and tread it fast;
Then tie your tree, but don't forget
How much the lOosened soil will set.
To catch the rain, the earth about
Should like dish be followed out
Each injured root part cut away,
But leave the rest untouched, pray.
Then, TO Offset the losses here
Prune shapely, too, ''the top nor fear
Onethird the twigs to sacrifice
But spare the limbs of larger size.
Treatment like this, q few years hence
Your older trees need extra clre,
Lest slow decay their strength impaiI
Remove at once the fungus growth,
All withered limbs, nor yet be 10th
To clean out all superfiuous wood
Sunshine and air will do moro good.
Yet, if success is to be won,
This work must not be overdone.
Each autumn take your whitewash pot
And paint each tree throughout the lot
This will insure healthy kind
Kill worms, lice, bugs, of every kind
| To keep your trees in copious bearing
Supply them food with hand unsparing;
Rich barnyard compost well decayed,
Work it in well with hoe and spade
Around the tree on every side
Its mouths, you know, stretch far and vida
Such feeding given twice year
Ere long will make it's worth appear
II barren still, some tree remains
/ In spite of all your care and pains:
No fruit to cheer your longing eyes,
| Though sound and thrifty otherwise
Don't hew II down impatienty:
l Graft on a new variety.
1 One seasons work, il small the tree
If large, do it in two or three
/ Is there tree grown old or weak
J On which tn accustomed store you seek
\ In vain-though of kind well tried
I Let it still in its place abide.
( But go to work and shapely trim,
\ Cut off each crooked, dropping limb
Perchance the ruthless pruning knife
| VIII start anew its waning life.
I Watch DER your trees with jealous eye.
/ If any fault or harm you spy
l Proceed at once the cause to know,
I Nor give the mischief time to grow.
I Cut out each cankerous spot with care
\ Until the wood shows white and fair.
( Cut lengthwise to the bark; though sound,
/ With becswax cover well each wound
/ If you these rules observe, my friend,
I Rich blessings will your toll attend;
+ Your trees their gratitude will show:
7 Their graceful branches bending low
| With luscious fruit for you to cat
y Or turn to cider, rare and sweet
h Thus while you gain rich compensation,
! You'll rouse your friends to emulation.