249 



dark-green ; very solid if grown in cool weather ; one of the 

 earliest and best/ 



" And so on, for twenty or more sorts. All this is doubt- 

 less very fine, but I doubt if either you or I can understand 

 it all. Wonder what a frame is ? " 



" I'm sure I don't know. The only frame I ever saw was 

 a bonnet-frame." 



Kobert suddenly got up and went to the next room. If 

 I had not known him well, I should have imagined he was 

 offended at my levity. In a moment he returned, bringing 

 two large books, which he laid on the table, saying : 



" I bought these yesterday. They cost a good deal, but 

 as tools in our business they will prove invaluable. ' The 

 American Gardener's Calendar/ by Bernard McMahon, 

 and * The Field and Garden Vegetables of America/ by 

 Fearing Burr, Jr. You take one ; I'll take the other, and 

 we will read up on lettuce." 



For the next half hour nothing was heard in the room 

 save the slow turning of the leaves. Suddenly Robert shut 

 his book with a slam, gave a low whistle, and said : 



" Goodness ! What a tremendous thing lettuce is ! I 

 have read twenty-six pages on the subject, and am almost in 

 a muddle over it." 



"And my author refers to it on thirteen different pages. 

 How shall we ever master the subject?" 



