Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-03-29
THE TWELVE FUNDAMENTAL
RULES OF FRUIT CULTURE.

Translated by samuel Kaufman from "a
per read before the Horticultural society OF
the Canton of Berne, switzerland
Have you any ground 10 spare7
Go plant a fruit tree there,
The capital you thus invest
Will bring you handsome interest.
Be sure and choose thrifty tree
Let IL not spoiled or stinted b.;
Straight, tapering trunk; bark smooth and
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 fiows,
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 yesTs to come the orchard will
Attest the planters art and skill.
Dig three feet deep, each planting hole,
FIX s'plumb" each stem with twine and pole;
The loose sw ,rd 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 1.-The top nor fear
One-third the tw!gs to sacrifice
But spare the limbs of larger size.
Treatment like this. q few years hence
Will bring you luscious recompense.
Your older trees need extra care,
Lest slow decay their strength impair.
Remove at once the fungus growth,
All withered limbs, nor yet be 10th
To clean out all superfuous wood;
aud air will do more good.
Yet, If success is to be won,
This work must not be overdone.
Each autumn take your whitewash pot
And paint each tree throughou the lot.
This will insure healthy kind,
Kill worms, lice, bugs, ofevery kind.
To keep your trees in copious bearing
Supply them food with hand unsparipg;
Rich barnyard compost, well deoayed,
Work 1t in well with hoe or spade
Around the trees on every side
Its mouths, you know, stretch far and wide.
Such feeding given twice year,
Ere long will make its worth appear.
II barren still, some tree remains
In spite of all your care and pains;
No fruit to cheer your longing eyes,
Though SQUAD and thrifty otherwise
it down impauently;
Graft on new variety
Oue seasons work, If small the tree,
Iflarge, do 1t in two or three.
Il there a tree grown old or weak,
On which the accustomed store you seek
In vain-though Of a kind we'll tried
Let it still, in its place abide.
But to go to work and shapely trim,
Cut off each crooked, dropping limb.
Perchance the ruthless pruning knife
Will start anew its waning life.
Watch over your trees with jealouseye
If any fault or harm you spy,
Proceed at once the cause to know,
Nor give the mischief time to grow
Cut out each cankerous spot with care,
ntil the wood shows white and fair.
Cut lengthwise to the bark, though sound
With beesWax cover well each wound.
If you these rules observe. my friend,
Rich blessings will your toll attend;
7 Your trees their gratitude will show;
Their graceful branches bending low
With luscious fruit for you to eat
Or turn to cider-rare and sweet
Thus while you gain rich compensation,
You will rouse your friends to emulation.