shifeldt] CHILD REX AXD THE HOME GARDEN 109 



Since you have put the lime on put the piece of red litmus 

 paper into the lime soil and it will turn back to its same color, blue. 



It will take a pound of lime to even- forty square feet to sweeten 

 the soil of your garden. 



March 29. Catherine Gray. 



Nature's Soil Mixers 



Mother Earth always knows a way for man to be helped. I am 

 going to tell a way she has provided for us. In school the other 

 day Miss Sipe brought us a jar half filled with sand and its equiva- 

 lent in leaf mould on top of it. Then, without mixing the two, 

 we put quite a good many earth worms in it. 



We wanted to see what would happen, so we covered it with 

 heavy paper, so that no light — just air — could get to the worms, 

 for we know that they will work only in the dark. This we watered 

 every day. In about three days we began to notice that the soils 

 were being mixed. Why — what do you think? — those little 

 earth worms had mixed that soil — all by themselves. This is 

 one way that Mother Earth helps man. 



March 28, 191 7. Hazel Christ. 



During the middle of April lectures will be given to these 

 classes on birds, reptiles, insects, and so on, that are useful or 

 otherwise to the home garden. 



Enough cannot be said in favor of this addition to the teachings 

 of our public schools. If properly conducted and presented it 

 has everything in its favor and is entirely bereft of all disadvan- 

 tages. It leads to healthful exercise out-of-doors; it instructs 

 children in elementary biology, botany, and horticultural pursuits, 

 and above all it makes for training in the gentle art of correct 

 observation. 



"March! March! March! They will hurry 



Forth at the wild bugle sound; 

 Blossoms and birds in a flurry, 



Fluttering all over the ground. 

 Hang out your flags, birch and willow ! 



Shake out your red tassels, Larch! 

 Up, blades of grass, from your pillow! 



Hear who is calling you — March!" 



— Lucy Larcom. 



