Miscellaneous Papers. 337 



he also reap." I wish to drop a hint just here. Is it not possible that this 

 spraying of our trees does not do more good because of its cleansing prop- 

 erties than any other advantage gained. Does not the tree delight in 

 being washed with some cleansing wash like lime and soap and lye, and 

 sulphur and carbolic acid, and coal oil and Paris green and blue vitrol 

 just as much as you and I do to wash our hands when they are soiled. 

 1 wish to quote to you the prayer which the poet has put into the branches 

 of the trees. 



THE FRUIT TREES' PRAYER. 



"O Master, we appeal lo you; 



For many years we thrived and grrew 



Upon the food dame Nature gave. 



But, this exhausted, now we crave 



The aid that you alone can give — 



The food, without which, none can live. 



Too long you've starved us in your greed. 



You've cropped our ground, nor given heed 



To Nature's fi.xed eternal laws; 



That ends result from equal cause, 



That constant cropping must exhaust 



The food stored up at endless cost; 



The grass, with myriad mouths, devours 



The food which justly should be ours. 



Root out, destroy this thieving foel 



In these terse, emphatic words: 



Plant evergreens to shield your herds, 



Your orchards and your homes from cold. 



These beauteous trees outweigh your gold; 



Enhance your pleasures every year. 



And when the close of life draws near, 



Your children's gratitude will fill 



Your hearts with the prophetic 'Peace, good will.' " 



A. M. X. — From H'es/ern Rural. 



Missouri and other state interests are in many ways the same; what 

 I know I will tell you, what you know you will tell me. Individually we 

 are always and altogether reciprocating daily in what we do and what 

 we say. The experience of our fruit men is made the common property 

 of those interested on both sides of the line. Shall we cultivate? Shall 

 wo prune? Shall we use cow peas? Shall we sow to clover? Shall we 

 s])i'ay? Shall we rliin '. Ilicsc and iiuiiiy others have to be answered over 

 and over again, and as one answers thorn l)y his own experience, another 

 reciprocates by testifying to his own views whether they be the same or 

 different. Community interests, how they dove tail into one another, 



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