64 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



minerals, etc. Then as spring came on they watched the buds 

 of maple, alder, willow, hazel, etc. They started seeds of 

 tomatoes, celery, pansies and other flowers in the house. 



This fall we have been studying bulbs. The children became 

 so interested that they decided to have a tulip bed at the school- 

 house. In order that they might fully realize its value and feel 

 a true interest and ownership, I told them not to ask anyone to 

 give them the money but for each one to earn what they could, 

 and tell me how. The pennies soon came in, earned in many 

 ways, such as picking apples, tending baby, milking, cutting 

 corn, picking up potatoes, janitor work at schoolhouse, cleaning 

 the hen house, and one little girl had had her choice in having a 

 tooth pulled, either to give the dentist a quarter for cocaine to 

 deaden the pain, or have it pulled without anything and keep her 

 quarter for tulips. Although it was a large double tooth, not 

 loose, she had it pulled without flinching, for the sake of the 

 lovely flowers. I told them I would earn enough for the fenc- 

 ing, for we did not propose to have the neighbors' hens and chil- 

 dren in that garden. Some of the big boys spaded it up and 

 brought dressing and put up the fence. And a good lesson was 

 learned when the bulbs were planted. They have a bed three by 

 fifteen feet with several dozen tulips, daffodils and narcissus, all 

 snugly tucked into their winter bed and covered with a blanket 

 of fir boughs. If any of you go past East Buckfield during the 

 month of May I want you to be sure to notice the tulip bed. 



Right here, I will anticipate a question which some of you 

 busy mothers may ask, "How can a woman with a family find 

 time for such things, without neglecting her housework?" 

 That depends on the woman and upon what she considers neces- 

 sary housework. A woman with only two in the family can find 

 enough to keep her busy all of the time, if she is so disposed. 

 Or, she can make a study of economizing time, strength and 

 labor and still do what is necessary for the best interests of her 

 family. 



If a littie hand steals into mine, and a childish voice pleads, 

 "mamma, won't you go to walk with us?" or ''mamma, do please 

 come down to the brock." The chances are, the family may 

 have to go without cake for supper or pie for dinner, or the 

 white clothes may be very much slighted in ironing. However, 



