Lay-out of the Gardens
“How perfect!” exclaimed Mary Frances examining the sheet of paper which Billy handed her. “I can just imagine how beautiful my gardens will look. Isn’t it a lovely idea to have that circle in the walk!”
“It would look fine if it had a sun-dial built in the center,” said Billy, much pleased with his sister’s praise.
The Mary Frances Play House Garden
“Oh, Billy, Billy,” laughed Mary Frances, “I believe, I do believe you are going to surprise me!”
“What are you talking about?” cried Billy. “I must be going—another lesson to-morrow, if you say so, because you didn’t interrupt more than twice while I was talking.”
“It pays to be good,” he teased as he went off.
[CHAPTER IV]
Feather Flop’s Argument
NEITHER of the children had noticed the head of the big rooster as he peered curiously through the curtained window of the play house while they were talking.
As Mary Frances came out of the door, Feather Flop walked around the corner of the house. The little girl was so absorbed in looking at the plan that she did not see the rooster.
“Caw-caw!” Feather Flop cleared his throat. “Caw-caw!”
“Why, Feather Flop,” cried Mary Frances, “How you surprised me! I was so busy studying out Billy’s plan for the garden——”
“Is he anywhere about?” inquired Feather Flop, looking around anxiously. “I thought I saw him go.”
“Yes, he’s gone, Feather Flop,” laughed Mary Frances. “But let me show you—he has been planning such a delightful garden for me.”
“Delightful!” shrilled Feather Flop. “Delightful! I don’t think so.”
“Why, what makes you say that? How do you know what he planned?” inquired Mary Frances.
“I heard every word, every word,” said the rooster. “Of course you didn’t see me—I was peeping in the window.”
“Oh, Feather Flop!” cried Mary Frances. “Were you eaves-dropping?”
“I was listening,” acknowledged Feather Flop, “and I don’t approve of the plan at all.”
“Why, what’s wrong with it?” asked Mary Frances. “I think it’s beautiful.”
“It’s not sensible!” said Feather Flop. “It’s not useful!”
“But it seems perfect to me. How would you change it, Feather Flop?”
“Nobody can eat flowers!” exclaimed Feather Flop. “See here,” he looked over Mary Frances’ shoulder as she sat down on the bench, and pointed with his claw, “that plan fills the entire front yard with bloomin’ plants and gives only the little back yard for such things as taste good!”
“Dearie me! Dearie me!” laughed Mary Frances. “Is that it, Feather Flop? Why, don’t you love to see beautiful flowers?”
“Not half as much as I do to eat beautiful lettuce and beet tops and other beautiful vegetables,” declared Feather Flop, shaking his head sadly.
“It’s too bad, Feather Flop,” said Mary Frances, smoothing his fine feathers, “but I’ll see that you get plenty of such green things as you like.”
“Oh, thank you, little Miss,” said the rooster. “If you will do that, I’m ready to help with your silly—I mean your brother’s, plan.”
“Thank you, Feather Flop, for all your help,” said the little girl, “and good-bye for now. I must go or maybe mother will send Billy to look for me.”
“Good-bye! good-bye!” cried Feather Flop, jumping off the bench and running away as fast as possible.
[CHAPTER V]
Gardens for Little Folks
“HOW would you like another lesson on gardening to-day, Mary Frances?” asked Billy the next morning as he appeared at the door of the play house.
“Oh, Billy, you know I’d just love to have one!” said Mary Frances, getting the desk ready.
“This time we are to make a list of what to plant, if I remember correctly,” said Billy, taking a seat.
“Let me see: we will try to plant the garden so that we will have flowers in bloom from early Spring till late Fall.
In order to have flowering plants continuously in the garden, we must use the class of flowers called Per-en-ni-als,[A] the roots of which live from year to year.
If we depend on An-nu-als,[B] the seeds of which must be planted every Spring, we will not have blooms until Summer or early Fall.
So you see, in order to plan wisely, our next lesson is very important, and it is our—
GARDEN LESSON No. 2
What to Plant
Now, Mary Frances, I have really planned a delightful landscape flower garden for you to plant in front of your play house, and a wonderfully useful vegetable garden for the back of the play house; but before I give you that outline, I am going to pretend that you are a very little girl, and I will give you a list, just as our teacher handed it to us. I have it here:
Garden for Little Folks
1. Plan out the garden; that is, make a list of what you wish to plant.
2. Draw a picture map of your garden, marking the space where each different kind of flower or vegetable is to be planted.
3. Remember that low-growing plants should be placed in the foreground (front part) of the garden, and tall-growing plants in the background.
4. Order the plants or seeds.
5. Get the ground ready. (See [Chapter XIV].)
6. Now begin to plant, following instructions in [Chapter XV].
If space for your garden is about 10 x 15 ft. it would be delightful to plant it as shown by the picture-map drawn here.
Garden for Little Folks—10x15 Feet
(.) Bulbs. 2. Iris (blue). 3. Bleeding Hearts. 4. Pyrethrums. 5. Sweet William. 6. Phlox. 7. Eupatorium. 8. Coreopsis. 9. Gaillardia. 10. Chrysanthemums. 11A, 11B, 11C. Roses. 12. Hardy Asters. 13. Iceland Poppies. 14. Cosmos (not to be given a permanent place in garden; it may be used, however, as a filler between Hardy Perennials). 15. Alyssum. 16. Nasturtiums.
Plant Daffodils and Tulips between Hardy Perennials as indicated on plan with dots.
Now, for an—
Explanation
OF
THE LITTLE FOLKS FLOWER GARDEN
Four Hardy Bulbs for Little Folks Garden
These bulbs should be planted in late October or early November. They bloom in the early Spring and then die down, to come up the next Spring.
| No. on Map. | No. of Flowers to Plant. | How Deep to Plant. | Color. | Average Price. |
| (.) | 6 Emperor Daffodils. | 4 inches. | Yellow. | 25c for ½ doz. |
| (.) | 6 Cottage Garden Tulips, called also May-flowering Tulips. | 4 inches. | All colors. | 15c for ½ doz. |
| (.) | 6 Darwin Tulips. Bloom later than “Cottage Garden” Tulips; grow taller. | 4 inches. | All colors. | 15c for ½ doz. |
| (2) | 6 German Iris roots, called also “Blue Flags.” | 4 inches. | Blue, purple, and yellow. | 50c for ½ doz. |