28 Three Young Crusoe s 



the fruit after it was properly peeled and pronounced 

 it excellent. Edna could not help thinking, how- 

 ever, of Snowball and his love for bright colors: he 

 had such a way of finding things. 



Banana trees were plentiful, filling two entire rows 

 on one side of the garden. The trees were of dif- 

 ferent sizes and there were several varieties of fruits, 

 all different from the large yellow kind shipped to 

 New York and Norfolk. Many of them were plan- 

 tains, a variety used for baking, but the children did 

 not recognize them at that time. The fig banana 

 attracted them because of its peculiar shape and 

 small size, and a red variety because of its color. 



"T do believe this is popcorn," said Edna. ''\{ 

 it is, we can have great times popping it for supper." 

 It was several weeks before it got fully ripe, but Ed- 

 na's guess proved to be correct. 



"Then we can save some for seed and plant it over 

 and over again," said William. Beans had been 

 planted in the hills of corn and also by themselves 

 in several rows. These, with the potatoes, toma- 

 toes, and red peppers, made the children feel almost 

 at home; but they came next to a row of shapely 

 little trees with tomatoes on them! and after that 

 they were prepared for anything. 



Rows of gherkins, chayotes, arrowroot, and sev- 



