A-B-C OF VEGETABLE GARDENING 



to some purpose. It is natural work, and 

 healthy work, and work that will do more to 

 keep the average child out of mischief than 

 any other influence that can be brought to 

 bear on it. But I would not allow the child 

 to get the impression that I gave it garden- 

 w^ork to do as a mischief -preventative. That 

 would spoil everything. Aim to interest the 

 boys and girls in the mysterious processes of 

 nature. Encourage them to plan and exe- 

 cute as much of the work as can safely be 

 trusted to them. In a short time you will 

 find that most of them are equal to all the 

 requirements of the ordinary garden. 



I have often been told by those who have 

 had years of experience in garden-work that 

 at least half one's living for half the year 

 can be obtained from the garden, even if it 

 happens to be a small one, and my own ex- 

 perience bears out the truth of this state- 

 ment. If we grow our own vegetables we 

 are quite sure to have a greater variety to 

 add to the daily bill of fare than would be 

 the case if we were to buy them. We have 

 them when we want them without making 

 a trip to the market for them, or depending 

 on the uncertainties of telephone orders 

 which grocers so frequently fill by sending 



vegetables of a quality that would not satisfy 



6 



