CHAPTEE XXIII 



MR. TROMMEL TEACHES THE ART OF BUDDING 



[August] 

 HE little Horticultural Club is not dead, I 



hope?" said Mr. Trommel to the under-gar- 

 dener, who had come to call. 



"Oh, no, it is n't dead," said Mary. "You see, I 

 was away, and Mildred and Donald are away still ; 

 it 's just just resting." 



"I bud some young apple-trees to-morrow," re- 

 marked Herr Trommel, casually. Then he puffed 

 at his pipe in silence. 



"What 's budding, Mr. Trommel?" asked Mary, 

 immediately interested. 



Herr Trommel set floating a great cloud of smoke. 

 "It is like grafting," he said ; "only different." 



"Oh ! " said Mary, and was silent, while Herr 

 Trommel puffed at his pipe. 

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