Rural School Leaflet 757 



know of several already who have started keeping a few hens. We have 

 told them in the leaflets all about selecting eggs for hatching, taking 

 care of the little chickens, feeding, watering, and housing them as they 

 grow older, and grading the eggs for market. We have told them why 

 it pays to keep a pure breed of poultry. In the next few weeks I expect 

 to hear from many boys and girls who are going to make poultry-keeping 

 their occupation for this year." 



The postman was very much interested. 



" Tell the children that if they write to you I'll see that every letter is 

 delivered safely," he called as he went on his way. 



Besides raising corn, or keeping poultry, or planting a tree, or studying 

 birds or flowers or fruit, there is another thing that, it seems to me, will 

 appeal to many of the boys and girls who read this letter. A garden is 

 one of the most interesting places in the world, be it a vegetable garden 

 or a flower garden. Why wouldn't it be a fine piece of work for a boy 

 or a girl to take care of a home garden this summer? Besides the joy 

 of being out of doors and of raising things, there will be the pleasure of 

 contributing to the family something that they will be glad to have. 

 Many fathers are too busy with the field crops and the stock, and mothers 

 with the house and dairy, to have time for the garden. I am sure, however, 

 that they like fresh fruit and vegetables, and that they will let you have 

 a piece of ground for a garden all your own. Ask them about it. Perhaps 

 your father will find time to plow it for you. Whether he does or not, 

 if you make up your mind to do this piece of work this summer, and to 

 see how well you can keep the table supplied, read what I have written 

 in this leaflet about a home garden, and then go to work and make a 

 success of it. Don't give up, even if there do come times of discourage- 

 ment. You will be doing something worth while, and therefore worth 

 fighting for. At hard times just grit your teeth and make it go. I hope 

 I shall hear from a great many boys and girls who are going to take care 

 of a home garden this summer. Write me about it. 



Another thing that I know will interest you boys and girls is that 

 each time a leaflet comes out, it will contain the best letter I have received 

 from a boy or a girl. The first one is in this leaflet. Let us see who will 

 have the best one next time. 



I hope you will all read this leaflet carefully. There are many inter- 

 esting things in it that I have not been able to tell you about in my letter. 



Write to me soon. Every boy and girl who reads this letter is going 

 to take some one piece of work for the summer and do it well. I feel 

 sure of this, and I know you will not disappoint me. Learn all you can 

 about the out-of-doors, about wind and rain and sunshine and starlight 

 and flowers and fruit and trees and birds and animals. When you find 



