WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING. 41 



I almost expect to find the cooling drink and 

 the hospitable entertainment at the end of 

 the row. But I never do. There is nothing 

 to be done but to turn round, and hoe back 

 to the other end. 



Speaking of those yellow squash-bugs, I 

 think I disheartened them by covering the 

 plants so deep with soot and wood-ashes that 

 they could not find them ; and I am in 

 doubt if I shall ever see the plants again. 

 But I have heard of another defence against 

 the bugs. Put a fine wire-screen over each 

 hill, which will keep out the bugs and admit 

 the rain. I should say that these screens 

 would not cost much more than the melons 

 you would be likely to get from the vines if 

 you bought them ; but then think of the 

 moral satisfaction of watching the bugs hov- 

 ering over the screen, seeing, but unable to 

 reach the tender plants within. That is 

 worth paying for. 



I left my own garden yesterday, and went 

 over to where Polly was getting the weeds 

 out of one of her flower-beds. She was 



