THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



191 



FLAMEN POMONALTS. 



(Read at the Meeting of the Maine State Pomolorjical 



Society, at Gardiner. J 



BY J. M. LARUABEE. 



In ancient days of myth and gnome, 

 When gods and goddesses in Rome, — 

 Witii tempk^s numerous and grand, 

 And altars crowned on every hand, — ■ 

 Hekl sway : When nymphs with thoughtful 



care. 

 In human lahors had a share. 

 And loved and were beloved in turn,— 

 As human hearts. for love light yearn, — 

 Pomona, fairest of her race. 

 Among the fruit trees held a place, 

 And from her garden, orehanl, held 

 I'roduced bj^ skill the highest yield ; 

 And while she helped with cultured hand 

 The growing products of her land, 

 Or gathered fruits in garners laid 

 For future use ; this virtuous maid 

 Determined in her heart that she 

 A celibate for life would be. 

 So shutting up her garden gate, 

 '1 he young gods left outside to wait. 



Vertumnus, sought by human guise 

 This beauteous goddess to surprise, 

 And many a cunning scheme he planned 

 To win her virgin heart and hantl. 

 (Sometimes a reaper lad was lie ; 

 Again a ploughman he would be ; 

 Sometimes vine dressing was his plan ; 

 A soldier next, or lisherman ; 

 But all in vain : the obdurate miss 

 Would never grant a single kiss. 



Pomona, watching, saw one day 



An aged woman pass that way, 



Aiid bade her, with a kindly smile, 



To sto}) and rest herself awhile. 



The woman, talkative and gay, 



Related in a pleasant way, 



(As any garrulous woman would). 



The gossip of the neighborhood. 



Her manners gentle, unrestrained 



Pomona's conlidence obtained. 



She, still conversing, did relate 



The blessings of the marriage state ; 



The joys that crown a loving wife ; 



The evils of a single life. 



The charming nymph was not amazed 



To hear the god, Vertumnus, pi'aised, 



And there iirst felt within her heart 



The painless sting of Cupid's dart ; 



Then saw a transformation strange, — 



The woman to Vertumnus change. 



Tlie nymph of fruit, became with pride. 



The god of season's lovely bride. 



Pomona's worshippers with cheer, 

 Their sacrifices made each year 



To her, that she in preservation 

 Would keep the best fruits of the nation. 

 Her Flamcn Pomonalix stirs 

 The hearts of all her followers. 



Fair nymphs and goddesses to-day 

 As deities have lost their sway. 

 Uur " Hamadryads " by their arts 

 Become each one, a queen of hearts, 

 And pleased, each at her hreside, 

 As goddesses of home preside . 

 But still, upon the roll of fame 

 We find Pomona's honored name ; 

 Her pomological relation 

 ]s seen in your association. 



Pomologists of wintry Maine, 

 The virtues of the nymph retain ; 

 The super excellence of their fruit 

 Proclaims them members of her suite. 

 And many a " Pine Tree " orchardist 

 Pomona's "Maiden's Blush" has kissed. 

 Then "seek-no-farther," "Northern Spy ; " 

 Kext summer " WiUiams' Favorite " try. 

 And should you an " Early Harvest " plan. 

 Forget not, bright, "Red Astrachan." 

 And when the " Pumpkin Russet" turns, 

 And "Sops of Wine" your stomach yearns. 

 When "Moses Wood" is "President," 

 When "Rambo" wins the "Beauty- Kent," 

 When "Minister" becomes a "Dean," 

 And " Duchess-Oldenburgh " a queen. 

 Then let your "Granite Beauty " meet 

 On "Kilham Hill," her " Frankhn Sweet," 

 And have your " Fameuse " "Porter" wait 

 Beside the "King of Tompkins'" gate. 

 Above his head the "Hightop Sweet," 

 The " Garden Royal " at his feet. 

 Until he sees the "Golden Ball" 

 Ascend above "Tetofsky" wall, 

 Then "Jonathan" and he can eat 

 Each "Twenty Ounce" of "Superb Sweet;" 

 But should his " Mother " hungry get, 

 She'll send him off to " Somerset," 

 From good ' ' Benoni " to obtain 

 A "ISodhead" and "Blue Pearmain." 

 Should " llubbardston Nonsuch" allow, 

 But chase him with a " Yellow Bough ;" 

 Then " Sarah" will be pleased, I ween, 

 If he brings home a " Gravenstein." 

 Pomologists, if we are wise. 

 We all shall seek "Sweet Paradise," 

 Or at "Peck's Pleasant" quarters stay 

 When "Gloria Mundi" slips away. 

 And let us, when the " Winter White " 

 Shuts " Winthrop Greening" out of sight ; 

 Rest, till the "Baldwin(d)" rudely shakes 

 The " Golden Russet " down in flakes. 

 Then shall the " Ladies' Sweet" be ours 

 Enwreathed with fairest of "Bellfiowers." 

 — Home Farm. 



