The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1920-03-05

TO Scenes Like Inie-ParapnraSins
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
The middle-aged gentleman was
downcast, not to say positively de-
spondent. And 1t wasn't his nature
Mt lunch time. Something serious had
happened, clearly. His young friend,
who felt duty Of guardianship In
way. asked him what 1t was.
"Well." confessed the middle-aged
gentleman. II am apprehensive as to
the future Of the country. The home
orchard Is passing away-a specialist
OF the United States department Of ag-
riculture told me So And l don't see
how American institutions as we know
them are going to survive such blow.
Why, all the memories that are worth
while-all the sweet sentiments that
tie us to the divine sufficiently to keep
US from going wholly to the brute
home orchard. The thing that brings
to me the spirit of Easter-the coming
of life out of death-isn't sermons and
FLIES. 1t is the smell Of plum blossoms,
white on the trees and fragrant long
before the leaves appear. Apple bios
SONS after q warm rain-peach blooms
against a saffron sunset-apples hang
Ing thick on the trees when the leaves
are falling and frost is near, the visi-
BILE proof OF the faith that Nature will
provide for her children through the
frozen time! Why, there isn't day
hut some memory Of my playtime In
the old orchard makes me kinder and
more decent to the other human be-
ings who have to live here with me.
What's going to happen, I'd like to
know, when we have bred race that
buys Its fruit from commercial or.
chards and knows nothing OF the hui
manizing influence of the little or.
chard that is part of home, and II
not actually part Of heaven, ut least
bit of the path that leads to
heavenT
Reviewing the Home Orchard.
"well," said the young friend
"other specialists Of the department OF
agriculture besides the one you talked
to have been thinking about 1t. don't
know that they had your particular
phase of the home orchard In mind.
believe they were thinking more about
saving money in the home, and about
the greater comfort Of the members OF
the household. But they have written
bulletin entitled Growing Fruit for
Home Use.' It begins this way: "A
more general culture Of fruits in gar
dens and in home orchards would con
tribute substantially to the health and
pleasure Of the average family. besides
furnishing supply Of valuable food
products at relatively small outlay
of money Something, you see, Is be
ing done to prevent the passing Of the
home orchard"
"Pm glad to hear It," said the middle.
aged gentleman. "What else does the
bulletin sayf"
"WeIl. 1T has 40 pages full Of sound
advice about growing fruit In the home
orchard. 1t outlines plan for an
orchard tells what kind Of site is best
how to obtain nursery stock, the rela
tive advantages of large and dwarf
trees, season of planting, preparation
| of the soil, handling the stock from the
nursery, planting. cultural methods
| maintaining soil fertility, pruning and
training, control OF insect pests and
| fungous diseases, varieties of fruit fol
different regions. description ofthe diff
| ferent fruit districts. comments or
| fruit varieties, age of bearing, and lists
of varieties. 1t discusses apples, pears
| ounces. peaches, apricots, pluns
cherries. grapes. gooseberries. cur
| rants, strawberries, raspberries. black
berries, dew5erries and, possibly. some
| Others"
"That"--and the mlddle-aged gentle
man let out long breath and grew
| less tense lis fine. as far as 1t goes
| II tells man how to grow fruit n'
home. But does II tell him why &c
grow fruit at homer
"Yes," said the young man. 1T points
| out that, In many localities, the DIM
| Guilty Of securing fruit in pleasing vari
| ETY. by purchase, Is strong reason fol
| its home production wherever possible
| Ii says that, throughout large portion
| OF the country. q sufficient range In Va
| rsety Of fruits can be produced 20 Ero
vide Il supply 10 the fresh state for tn
tailc dnring Z large part ~ ~ yea'
/ ana tfor cnnn.ne or o(hoFWieo conDefv