The man of whom we purchased our peach trees told me that he would be pleased to have me observe the way they were planted. I then asked him to let me show him how it had been represented in the night season that they should be planted. I ordered my hired man to dig a deep cavity in the ground, then put in rich dirt, then stones, then rich dirt. After this he put in layers of earth and dressing until the hole was filled. I told the nurseryman that I had planted in this way in the rocky soil in America. I invited him to visit me when these fruits should be ripe. He said to me, "You need no lesson from me to teach you how to plant the trees."
Our crops were very successful. The peaches were the most beautiful in coloring, and the most delicious in flavor of any that I had tasted. We grew the large yellow Crawford and other varieties, grapes, apricots, nectarines, and plums.
{Selected Messages Book 3, p. 328}
The Spraying of Fruit Trees
There
are those who say that nothing, not even insects, should be killed. God
has not entrusted any such message to His people. It is possible to
stretch the command "Thou shalt not kill" to any limit; but it is not
according to sound reasoning to do this. Those who do it have not
learned in the school of Christ.
This earth has been cursed
because of sin, and in these last days vermin of every kind will
multiply. These pests must be killed, or they will annoy and torment
and even kill us, and destroy the work of our hands and the fruit of
our land. In places there are ants [termites] which entirely destroy
the woodwork of houses. Should not these be destroyed? Fruit trees must
be sprayed, that the insects which would spoil the fruit may be killed.
God has given us a part to act, and this part we must act with
faithfulness. Then we can leave the rest with the Lord.
God
has given no man the message, Kill not ant or flea or moth. Troublesome
and harmful insects and reptiles we must guard against and destroy, to
preserve ourselves and our possessions from harm. And even if we do our
best to exterminate these pests, they will still multiply. {Selected Messages Book 3, p. 329}
