PREFACE 



The following pages were originally written for 

 small children; as such they appeared in the Coun- 

 try Gentleman under the title "The Child's Gar- 

 den." Gardening is such a big problem I was 

 anxious to make it understandable to the begin- 

 ner's mind. 



Since our entrance into the World's War the 

 knowledge of the vital importance of food pro- 

 duction has led rne to put these chapters into book 

 form for "children older grown." The fact that 

 flowers occupy some of the space may help to cheer 

 us as we work at the big task of increasing the 

 world's food supply. 



The wonderful work the Boy Scouts of America 

 are doing to help increase this supply, has, more 

 than any other cause, led me to rewrite these chap- 

 ters. Under the wonderful leadership of my life 

 partner, the Chief Grub Scout, I am sure they will 

 achieve yet greater results. 



vii 



