The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming.

an at the big oak table in front of a huge open fire looked up, smiled, and said, "Off with your duds, boys!

e that things should always be shipshape. Then the "line up" came. This was a little ceremony the boys always went through, having dropped into it quite of their own accord. They formed a line in front of t

g man who had come to spend a while in this little country village, to rest and to write. The boys had named him The Chief because, as Albert said, "He co

f the table and right in front of the fire. He was slim and tall and light of foot. He could run faster, throw farther, and pl

he was there so The Chief might have him within reach. Next to Albert came George, frank-faced and bashful, sturdy and loyal. Opposite him red-headed, stubby Peter sat always on the edge of

rst we had better take up your reports." Then he pointed at Jay who began: "Well, when Albert and I asked father for a piece of the garden for our

," shouted out Albert

this, Savage, un

ys worked for him, and he might let us try for ourselves. Besides, I told him we'd not shirk his work. So final

for he gave us an old piece of land below the barn. It's a regular old swamp; why, water stands there the whole spring

old father," continued Jay. "We have just

isten at all at the first; then he said I might have the hills of corn. He threw in also an old side sl

have the backyard, such as it is, but that's precious little use. It's never been used for a garden, and it's full of rock. One of our ne

much lawn, and mother will not have it cut up. Grandfather said I might

around here. You'll win The Chief's five dollars for the best garden; you j

adly. "Fin sorry the garden's

e those fathers of yours, and have a good time out of it, too. Jay and Albert have a big problem of draining; George has simply got to p

ed him off his chair and Albert gave a war whoo

on the manner in which you are going to get at your work and the way in which you will beat conditions. In this way we can keep track of each other's work. We must make our plans, too, on paper, which will help out. We have catalogues

s. One can tell this sort of soil by its lightness and the ease with which a mass of it drops apart. By the word lightness one does not mean colour or weight, but looseness. A clay soil may be told by its stickiness; its p

ing with, we have first to think of its ph

given mass of particles has a given air space between every particle. Again, if a marble is dipped in water a film of water remains on it a short time. Let us think o

rapidly. How shall we improve a sandy soil? Just add something to bind t

squeeze tightly together and so air is shut

ls in soils which act as foods to plants, but only three are the essentials. If these cannot be unlocked f

ell to know what each one does for a plant. Nitrogen makes fine, green, sturdy growth of leaf and stalk; phosphorus helps blossoming plants; while potash makes plump fruit. If foliage looks sickly then ni

t out of the soil. Study the soil you are dealing with, supply if possible what it

esting ta

ener than just Saturd

ly we may have to meet Fridays, too, later on, for you have no

city to grandfather's to spend almost every Saturday and Sunday, may join

urday. We'll be glad to h

urted out Albert

as long as he behaves and work

wered Geor

ot so difficult. If Jay and Albert drop in some day from school they

rmuring as he fell, "Worse, much worse than school!" Georg

ell and pop the corn, George and Jay, crack the nuts. And you, Al

r Albert always do the hard work, while the other fellows stay b

and the munching of the firm apples as the boys ate. The firelight played softly over the old room bringing out strongly the big oak table, the group of boys, t

The man held the light high above his head sending a stream of light after them, George astride his old farm horse read

he man, "We'll be on time next Satur