“For instance, take a pansy plant,” added the farmer. “A plant may only produce a few blossoms and these will be very large and beautiful. But cut them off as soon as they are fully opened and the plant will send up more buds—not quite as large. If these are picked too, more buds will appear, but will be still smaller, and so on. If you want to produce an extraordinarily large and beautiful flower on a plant, you pinch off every bud that appears excepting the one you wish over-fed with the plant’s food. All the strength and vitality that would be divided between many blossoms now goes to the one and produces an extra large and fine single flower.”
“When I go home I’m going to plant flowers and try that idea,” said Vene Starr.
The Little Citizens were almost finished with the inspection of the farms when a signal sounded from the fire-gong. The visitors looked at each other for an explanation.
“It is the call for evening song,” said Uncle Ben.
“Who started that idea?” asked Ned.
“Flutey. She said no child should go to bed without having its soul lifted to a sense of harmony that would really affect its sleeping hours. And we find the singing is really a good thing for us all,” explained Uncle Ben.
The Little Citizens seemed to look forward to this song-exercise and soon all were seated in the open Refectory, where a small upright piano stood. One of the young women who helped with the Nests, sat down before the instrument and played a gay little air; then the signal sounded for silence.
Miss Selina made it her business to be present at these song-times, and generally stood up after the prelude and offered a very short, simple prayer. Then the Little Citizens sang.
In the short time they had been at Happy Hills, most of them had memorized several sweet songs, and could sing really well. Uncle Ben and his group sat in the back row the better to get the effect of the chorus singing, and when the lovely song called “The Prince of Peace” was finished he felt that he must wipe his eyes for they were moist.
The Blue Birds and Bobolinks encored this song with such enthusiasm that Flutey smiled and said: “Little Citizens, our visitors appear to favor that selection. Suppose we now treat them to the new one we have been learning. How many think they can sing it in public?”