“Why doesn’t Norma use leaf-mold, Jimmy? You said yourself that there was nothing like it. She can hire all the scouts to dig and carry it in baskets from the woods,” suggested Natalie.
“Mrs. Tompkins said that a good barnyard compost well mixed with the dry soil, was best of all manures for the flowers. But it must be thoroughly mixed. Then, she said, a fine leaf-mold was excellent for top-dressing. So I think I will listen to Mrs. Tompkins who has such wonderful results with her plants,” replied Norma.
“Yes, Norma is quite right to abide by the rule Mrs. Tompkins uses. No one in or near Four Corners has such flowers,” said Mrs. James.
“Well, then, Norma and I can order a load from Ames when we see him again,” said Natalie.
“We’ll see him drive past on his way to the store,” was Janet’s suggestion.
“If he doesn’t go past, I will leave an order at Four Corners for him to deliver the compost as soon as possible, shall I?” asked Frances.
“Yes, do, Frans, please!” exclaimed both girls in one voice.
“Write it on a card and then Tompkins can put it in his letter-box,” suggested Mrs. James.
CHAPTER VI
JANET RECEIVES ENCOURAGEMENT
The girls were aroused from sweet slumbers early the next morning by Rachel’s shrill calls. Each girl instantly fancied that some dire accident must have happened to her especial line of work, so they all ran to the platform of the stairway to look from the back windows where they could plainly hear Rachel’s voice.