A WARNING TO FRUIT TREE PLANTERS.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 175, 13 December 1876, Page 4

A WARNING TO FRUIT TREE PLANTERS.

Paddy Burke bought some fruit trees at my sale, and having some doubts about his managing the planting business, I took a stroll over to Pat’s place to see what lie was doing in bis bit of a garden. Well, 1 found him hard at it, setting out the last of the trees. “ Arrah, musha Pat, my hoy, what in the name of St. Patrick are you doing wid the trees ?” says I. “ Bedad, yer honor,’’ says ho, “ shure and I’m after planting them blessed trazs I bought of yez the other day, and as I’m getting an old man now, you see, when I am dead and gone, Biddy and the spalpeen of childer will have fruit to ate, shure !” “ Bedad, Pat, old man, says I, “if you don’t plant them properly I’m thinking poor Biddy and the kids will cat precious little fruit off those trees.” Put stared, saying—- <£ Shure it’s myself knows how to plant trazs.” “ Now', look hero, my boy,” says I, “you ain’t a-going ta fool,me in that way. 'Why, confound it man, that tree is set far too deep; and my goodness look how you have the roots ! Why, in a few months your tree, if left as it is, will very soon have the Grecian bend.” “ To the devil wid you and the Grecian bend !” exclaimed Pat. “ What has it f o do wid my word, at all, at all ?” “ More than you think/ my boy,” says I; “ don’t you see, man, you are leaving the roots all on the one side, which will cause the tree to loan that way. Just allow me to fix it for you” (which I soon did), then taking Pat to a stump I pulled off some of the bark, and started a nest of tarantulas. “Now', Paddy,” says I, “ you see that critter, look well, how his legs are spread.” “ Ah, mother of Moses !” says he, is it poking fun you are at me ?”

“ No, no, Pat ! see his legs are all round, so now', when yon plant more trees think of that fellow', and just imitate, exactly the manner in which his precious legs are; set by your tree roots.”

“ Ah, by the Powers !” roared out Pat. “ Shure it’s myself knows wdiat yer honor manes, bedad ! and I’ll take up all them trazs and plant them that way. Shure now, you’ll be after taking a drink of tay Avid us. Biddy has it ready for you.” I was glad to accept worthy Pat’s hospitality, feeling rather thirsty after my walk, and when I loft the house had a blessing invoked upon my devoted head by those warm-hearted Irish people. And friend Pat promised to come and buy a lot more trees at my sale on Saturday, when I hope to meet a great many of such worthy gardeners as Paddy Burke. Bathurst, 10th October, 187 G.