Daddy Takes Us to the Garden | Page 8

and other vegetables must have soil which is
called richer--that is it has more fertilizer in it--something which is
food to the seeds and plants as bread, butter, meat and potatoes are food
for us."
"Do plants eat?" asked Hal.
"Of course they do, just as I told you the trees did. Plants eat through
their roots in the earth. They drink water that way, too, and through
their leaves. And they breathe in the air and sunlight the same way.
Plants, as well as boys and girls, need warm sun, enough water and
good soil to make them grow."
"But why don't you plant the tomato seeds right in the garden?" asked
Hal.

"Because it is a little too early. The weather is not warm enough and
the ground is too damp. So I plant the seeds in the house and soon there
will be many little tomato plants in this box, which, you children must
see to it, must be kept in the sunny window, and not out in the cool air.
When the plants are large enough we will take them from the box and
put them in the garden in nice long rows. This is called transplanting,
which means planting a second time, and is done with many garden
things such as lettuce, cabbage and celery."
"But you didn't tell us what makes the seeds grow," said Mab, as she
watched her father carefully smooth the soil in the box and then scatter
in the tomato seeds, afterward covering them up with a piece of
window glass.
"I'll tell you as best I can, though no one really knows what is in the
seed to make it grow. Only Mother Nature knows that. But at least we
have a start with our garden," said Daddy Blake, "and to-morrow I'll
tell you, as well as I can, why a seed grows. It is time to go to bed
now."
As Hal and Mab started up stairs, thinking what a wonderful thing it
was to have a garden, there came a ring at the front door.
"My! Who can be calling this time of night?" asked Mother Blake, in
surprise.
Hal and Mab wondered too.

CHAPTER III
UPSIDE DOWN BEANS
"Let's wait and see who it is, Hal," whispered Mab to her brother as
they stood on the stairs.
"Maybe it's somebody come to find out about a garden," added the little
boy. "Daddy knows lots about how to make things grow, and maybe,

on account of the war, everybody's got to plant corn and beans and
things."
"I don't like war and soldiers," spoke Mab, while Daddy Blake went to
the front door. "I don't care when you play soldier, and make believe
shoot your pop gun, but I don't like REAL guns. Maybe this is
somebody come to tell Daddy to go to war."
"I hope not!" exclaimed Hal.
When Daddy Blake opened the door the children heard some one
saying:
"I guess this little fellow belongs to you, Mr. Blake. I found him over in
my garden, digging away. Maybe he was planting a bone, thinking he
could grow some roast beef," and a man's laugh was heard. Then came
a sharp little bark.
"Oh, it's Roly-Poly!" cried Hal.
[Illustration]
"He must have run away and we didn't miss him 'cause we talked so
much about the garden," added Mab. "I wonder where he was?"
"Yes, that's my children's dog," said Mr. Blake to the man who had
brought home Roly-Poly. "So he was in your garden; eh?"
"Well, yes, in the place where I'm going to make a garden. My name is
Porter, I live next door. Only moved in last week and we haven't gotten
acquainted yet."
"That's right," said Mr. Blake. "Well, I'm glad to know you, Mr. Porter.
Hal and Mab will be pleased to have Roly-Poly back, I'm also glad to
know you're going to have a garden. I'm going to start my two
youngsters with one, and if Roly-Poly comes over, and digs out your
seeds, let me know and I'll keep him shut up."
"I will, and you do the same with my chickens. They're bad for

scratching in a garden, though I plan to keep them in their own yard. So
your boy and girl are going to have gardens; are they?"
"Yes. I want them to learn all they can about such things."
"I've got a boy, but he's too young to start yet. Sammie is only five,"
said Mr. Porter. "Well, doggie, I guess you're glad to get back home,"
and he gave Roly-Poly to Mr. Blake who thanked his neighbor, asking
him to call again.
"Here, Hal and Mab!" called their father. "After this you must keep
watch of your pet. I guess there will be