180 THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 



would have larger and better fruit growing upon a stouter 

 cane. Every way a better arrangement. 



Kate and Johnny were at first surprised at the audacity 

 of this proceeding, and positively alarmed when Farmer 

 Gooding advised them to go over the whole trellis and serve 

 every bearing shoot and all the top or end shoots in the 

 same way. 



" It's the only way. Ought to been done a month back. 

 There'll be a decent crop there, if ye 'tend to 'em.' 7 



Kate and Johnny declared they certainly would do so, 

 and soon after, their new instructor went away, careless 

 that he had sown good seed in ready ground. 



" So queer!" said Kate. "He does not like knitting- 

 work, and yet he pinches his grapes." 



To give the details of all the horticultural doings and 

 sayings of the Wellsons' would involve more time than we 

 have at command. In brief, they went over their little 

 plantation, and with infinite pains did all they could to 

 carry out the directions they had received. Johnny plied 

 his hoe vigorously, while Kate and Mary assisted, with an 

 old pair of scissors, in cutting away the extra runners, and 

 blunted their pretty fingers in " pinching " the grapes. 



Did they not find it hard work ? Oh ! of course. That 

 was the very thing best for them and what they wanted. 

 Good, healthy out-of-door work, if not in excess, is the 

 best thing ever given to three such sensible young folks as 

 these same Wellsons. 



