“I showed the children how to dig and work over the soil until it was right for planting. Then I taught them how to choose the right seed for this time of the year, and each child was shown how to plant the seed chosen by him.
“Now you see, some plants are already growing fine, and some are just sprouting from the ground. Some farms have been seeded and are not yet sprouting, and some have just been made ready to plant.
“We farmers think it great fun to hunt the bugs and worms that would injure our plants. We are very careful to keep the ground well watered so the roots can keep healthy and feed the green shoots above the earth. We have some fine radishes that will soon be large enough to pull for dinner.
“Bill’s radishes are the best and finest, and he will soon be able to pull some and sell them to the cook at the Refectory at market price.”
This attracted attention to Bill’s garden and the children took great pride in the order and neatness of the farm-plot.
“Looks as if Bill might win a prize for neatness,” said Uncle Ben.
“You’se diden’ say what de prize was! Ef it’s going to be a choice of t’ings, lemme take cash, ’cuz I’m goin’ to save all dis summer an’ lay by to git a farm fer us all ferever!” vowed Maggie, enthusiastically, as she waved her arm at her six brethren.
“We will consider that matter for you, Maggie, and decide what the prize shall be,” agreed Uncle Ben.
As the children went from one well-kept farm to the next, something interesting was learned from each plot.
For instance the Blue Birds heard from Farmer Jones that a radish was really a root. Because of its red color it could be mistaken for fruit or a bulbous vegetable, but it grows and produces stems with leaves, so it must be classed with root vegetables.