244 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



a little coating of ice has formed about the roots and 

 keeps them from being hurt." 



"But how does the ice keep them warm?" ques- 

 tioned the under-gardener, in perplexity. 



"Urn well, the snow keeps the ground warm ; it 

 is of the cold air that the little roots are afraid. Yes. 

 Now, if it is dry, the soil is not so close around the 

 roots ; there is not the little coat of ice ; and when the 

 ground cracks, the cold air comes in and hurts 

 them." 



"But our club," began Mary, "you know we 're 

 going to fix people's grounds for them." 



"Set out trees and flower-beds and those things," 

 finished Randolph Findlayson. 



"Yes, and we '11 have to do most of it in the 

 spring. 'Most all the people we have asked say they 

 will 'see about it in the spring,'" said Mary. "Do we 

 set out trees the same way then? " 



"How else should you set them out? But I tell 

 you this, Liebchen: people are foolish and will get 

 their trees late ; then at the end of May you will be 

 setting out a fine young tree already coming into 

 leaf. Do you know what you should do then ? " 



The president of the Horticultural Club shook her 

 head. 



