PLANTING SWEET PEAS 47 



to eat, they run so fast and are so full of life and color. 

 But no ! they will be happy on poor soil, sandy soil, 

 with almost nothing to eat ; they do not mind much 

 going thirsty. But the sweet peas, so dainty and 

 delicate, they will yet eat all the food you can give 

 them, and they drink, drink aber nothing but 

 water, although they like the liquid manure." 



"They 've lots to eat here," said Mary, with satis- 

 faction. "Now I 'm going to dig the trench. I 

 think I '11 take my shovel," she decided, after con- 

 sidering her implements with the care of a cautious 

 golfer. "Shovels and trenches seem to go together, 

 Mr. Trommel." 



"It is small," assented the old man; "it will not 

 do much harm." 



"So far from the wire ? " questioned she, putting in 

 the shovel about three inches from the wire. 



Mr. Trommel nodded. "Can you make it 

 straight?" 



"I have a string," said the under-gardener, 

 proudly, putting one hand in her apron pocket ; 

 "I made that myself out of two clothes-pins, and it 

 rolls up so. See," she said, holding up a clothes-pin 

 and string arrangement. "Clothes-pins are very 

 useful, Mr. Trommel." 



