The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming. | Page 7

"if we get invited."
"Boys, it's late. We know a little of what our stunts are to be. Next
week each of you bring about fifty seeds of each kind you intend to
plant. Be able to tell just how these seeds should be planted. Also have
the dimensions of your plots. Jack will bring some soft wood along, too.
And Philip, find out, if possible just how much money you can have for
shrubs. Now on with your coats! Out of my house in two seconds!"
"No food to-night is a sad blow, Chief," said Albert pretending to weep
as he opened the outside door.
"This blow is sadder," replied Jack, playfully shoving Albert clean out
of the door.

III
THE GIRLS' SECRET
A very timid little knock roused The Chief from his study of Jack's
coldframe plans. The outer door gently opened and three little girls
entered and advanced to where the man sat. One, the smallest of the
three, was thrust forward as spokesman. Gathering herself together she
began with a rush. She thrust a letter into The Chief's hands.
"This is the boys' horrid letter. We don't care particularly about
belonging to a boys' club. We wouldn't now, any way. But we'd like to
show those boys a thing or two and we thought perhaps you would help
us. Will you?"
"Sit down, and we will work out a little plot together. But first tell me

your names. I like to know the names of people with whom I plot."
The girls came close to the man. The spokesman did the introducing. "I
am Delia, Peter's sister, and just as smart as he is. This," pointing to a
quiet, pleasant-faced girl, "is Ethel. And the other is Jack's sister,
Elizabeth."
"How many more girls belong to this company?"
"They are all outside waiting, I'll call them in if you say so. They are
behind the lilac bushes. You see we were afraid some of the boys might
come to see you, so we hid. For we don't wish them to know about this
at all. I'll call the girls in now." So Delia ran to the door, held it wide
open, and called "Come girls, he wants to meet you!"
"Come right in, girls. This one," pointing to a girl with light hair and
bright eyes, "is Eloise. Her father keeps the Inn. And this is Josephine,
who has no yard at all; and Helena who has plenty of ground; and this,"
with a grand flourish, "this is the judge's daughter, Katharine."
"I hate," said Katharine, "always being labelled; I think it's pretty hard
on a girl to be tagged this way."
"If you'll sit down," began The Chief--"although there are not chairs
enough--we'll get right down to business."
And then how they talked! Closer and closer they drew up to The Chief
until the eight heads were so close together they seemed almost one
huge head. Finally they all shouted with laughter.
"Not a word outside, mind you, not one word. Prove that girls can keep
a secret."
"We solemnly promise," said Katharine for the others.
"Look," cried Elizabeth, "there comes Jack; what shall we do?"
"Out this way," quietly replied the man, almost sweeping seven happy
little girls out of the door. "Now, cut and run." And off they scampered
over the fields.

IV
GARDEN EXPERIMENTS PERFORMED INDOORS
"The meeting is called to order," began Jay. "To-night, so The Chief
says, each fellow has some special thing to talk about. Albert will have
an accident with that bottle unless he begins right off, so tune up,
Savage."
"This bottle is full of vinegar. I might have brought a lemon or anything

else acid. This blue paper is called litmus paper. I got it at the drug
store for ten cents. Just look right here, and you will see magic worked.
I shall put some vinegar on this piece of paper. See!"
"Turned red as quick as scat!" said Jack.
"Litmus will always turn red when any acid gets on it. I've tried several
acids at home. It works every time," went on Albert as if no one else
had spoken.
"I cannot see what this has to do with gardens." began Philip.
"Now you keep quiet until I finish. Haven't you fellows heard your
fathers talk about sour ground? Well, that means acid soil."
"Why, we have a piece of ground, where sorrel grows thick; father says
that is sour," added George.
"Just a minute, Albert," broke in The Chief; "that is one way, George,
that farmers tell a sour bit of land. Weeds grow thickly over such
ground, but as George has said, sorrel is likely to predominate. Go on,
Albert."
"Any soil may be tested with this litmus. The Chief calls this