"Seems to me, Zan, that the squash vines haven't enough soil to nourish the roots during the demand made upon its strength by the ripening fruit," commented Miss Miller, examining the stem where it entered the earth.
"We'll speak to Bill about that," replied Zan, watching the Guide with interest.
Having passed through the corn-field, the Band reached the general vegetable garden. The first plants they found needing attention were the tomato vines. They had been trained on trellises but many of them had slipped and fallen with the weight of their own fruit and foliage.
"They seem to be all green leaves!" said Hilda.
"What do you call this—and this here!" exclaimed Zan, exultantly displaying a cluster of bright green tomatoes.
"They must be late tomatoes, Zan, aren't they?" asked the Guide.
"Yes, the others are down by the barn—we can pick some of them to-day if you like. Bill says there are lots of them."
"Look, girls! All the cabbages over there. Who'll ever eat them?" called Hilda.
"Bill sends all we need for winter, and lots that are left over are fed the cattle. Pigs like cabbage, and all the cows and horses eat it. Even the chickens cluck over a handful of leaves and peck for hours until nothing but the heavy vein in the centre is left," explained Zan.
"Zan, you're a real farmer! We never knew how much you understood about these things!" said Miss Miller.