WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING. 9 1 



spicuously flaunting above the old vines ; and by 

 this means I hope to keep the attention of the 

 birds confined to that side of the garden. I am 

 convinced that this is the true use of a scare 

 crow : it is a lure, and not a warning. If you 

 wish to save men from any particular vice, set 

 up a tremendous cry of warning about some 

 other ; and they will all give their special efforts 

 to the one to which attention is called. This 

 profound truth is about the only thing I have 

 yet realized out of my pea-vines. 



However, the garden does begin to yield. I 

 know of nothing that makes one feel more com 

 placent, in these July days, than to have his 

 vegetables from his own garden. What an ef 

 fect it has on the market-man and the butcher ! 

 It is a kind of declaration of independence. 

 The market-man shows me his peas and beets 

 and tomatoes, and supposes he shall send me out 

 some with the meat. &quot; No, I thank you,&quot; I say 



