160 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



the under-gardener. "But I 've seen slugs in the 

 daytime, Finnan Haddie. Once I lifted a board, and 

 there were lots of_them under it wet, nasty-looking 

 things. Mr. Trommel says that if you make a little 

 circle of lime around the plants, a little way from 

 the stem, it must n't touch that, the slugs can't 

 cross it." 



The chairman pounded on the table. "Children ! " 

 she said sternly, "this is not the time for talking. 

 Discussion comes afterward. Eleanor will read us 

 her paper. Stand over here, my dear, and be care- 

 ful to read slowly." 



Eleanor gave two or three little giggles of embar- 

 rassment, and then began : 



"THINNING SEEDLINGS 



"Thinning seedlings is a process which seems sad, 

 but it is necessary. It is sad because so many of 

 them die. They most often die when they are the 

 kinds which do not like to be transplanted. We have 

 to thin plants, because if we don't do it, the little 

 plants are too crowded, and then none of them are 

 any good. Mr. Trommel says they get to quarreling 

 for their bread and butter, so we must separate 

 them. 



