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STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE TWELVE FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF FRUIT CULTURE. 



[Translated by Samuel Kaufman from a paper read before the Horticultural Society of the Canton 



of Berne, Switzerland ] 



Have you any ground to spare ? 

 Go plant a fruit tree there: 

 The capital you thus invest 

 "Will bring you handsome interest. 



Be sure and choose a thrifty tree — 

 Let it not spoiled or stinted be ; 

 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, 

 "iour 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 — 

 Tn TOWS arranged with studious art ; 



For years to come the orchard will 

 Attest the planter's taste and skill. 



Dig three feet deep each planting hole, 

 Fix "plumb" eai-h stem with twine and pole ; 

 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 a dish be hollowed out. 



Each injured root "part" cut away. 

 But leave the rest untouched, I pray; 

 Then to offset the losses here, 

 Prune shapely too "the top," nor fear 

 One-third the twigs to sacritice. 

 But spare the limbs of larger size. 



Treatment like this, a few years hence 

 Will britjg 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 loth 



To clean out all superfluous wood ; 



Sunshine and 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 throughout the lot; 

 This will insure a 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 or spade 



Around the tree on every side : 



Its months, you know, stretch far and wide. 

 Such feeding given twice a year. 

 Ere long will make its worth appear. 



If 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 it down impatiently : 

 Graft on a new variety- 

 One season's work if small the tree, 

 If large, do it in two or three. 



Is there a tree grown old or weak , 

 On which the accustomed store you geek 

 In vain, though of a kind well tried — 

 Lft it still in its place abide; 

 But go to work and shapely trim, 

 Cut off each crooked, drooping limb; 



Perchance the ruthless pruning knife 

 Will start anew its waning life. 



Watch over your trees with jealous eye; 



If any fault or harm you spy. 



Proceed at once the cause to know. 



Nor give the mischief time to grow; 



Cat out each cankerous spot with care, 



Until 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 toil attend ; 

 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. 



