SOME HINTS ON GROWING VEGETABLES 348 LIX. THE CITY GARDEN 360 LX. GARDEN COLOR-PICTURES 364 LXI. PATTERNS FOR PAPER FLOWERS 367 LXII. THE MARY FRANCES GARDEN CUT-OUTS 371 LXIII. LITTLE GARDENERS’ CALENDAR 373 LXIV. BUDDING AND GRAFTING 376 LXV. PRIZES AT THE COUNTY FAIR 377 THE MARY FRANCES GARDENS To be Cut Out and Mounted by the Reader (For Instructions, See Chapter LXII) INSERTS 1. MARY FRANCES’ PLAY HOUSE I, II 2. MARY FRANCES’ EARLY SPRING GARDEN III 3. MARY FRANCES’ EARLY SUMMER GARDEN IV 4. MARY FRANCES’ MID-SUMMER GARDEN V 5. MARY FRANCES’ AUTUMN GARDEN VI These cut-outs will familiarize the child with the plants shown, and their season of bloom, and inspire a love for practical out-of-door gardening. [Illustration: THE PLANT FAMILIES Cherry Rose Blackberry Strawberry Peach Apple Potato Egg Plant Tomato] INSTRUCTIONS— GARDENING CHAPTER 1. TO PREPARE THE SOIL XIII, XIV 2. HOW TO PLANT SEEDS XIV, XV 3. NAMES OF PARTS OF FLOWERS XVII, LXI 4. FERTILIZATION OR REPRODUCTION XIX-XXI 5. INSECT ENEMIES AND REMEDIES XXIX 6. HOW TO PLANT BULBS LVI 7. CONCERNING VEGETABLES LVIII 8. ROSES: HOW TO PLANT AND TEND XXXV-XXXVII 9. THE BEST ROSES TO GROW XXXVI 10. ANNUALS: WHEN AND HOW TO PLANT XI 11. PERENNIALS: WHEN AND HOW TO PLANT LI 12. HOW TO TELL THE COMMON WILD FLOWERS XXXIX-XLVIII 13. HOW PLANTS GROW XLIII 14. HOW TO MAKE A HOTBED LVII 15. BEST LIST FOR CHILDREN’S FLOWER GARDENS V 16. BEST LIST FOR CHILDREN’S VEGETABLE GARDENS V 17. OUTLINE OF EACH MONTH’S WORK FOR A YEAR LXIII [Illustration: THE GARDEN PEOPLE Good Mrs. Bee Feather Flop Little Lady Bird Beauty Butterfly Mr. Hop Toad Mr. Cut Worm The Wicked Rose Bugs] CHAPTER I FEATHER FLOP, THE GARDEN BOSS “OH, dear, I can’t understand a word this book says,” sighed Mary Frances, who was sitting on the garden bench, looking over a seed catalogue. “I can’t understand it!” “Of course you can’t,” said a strange voice. “Not without help.” Mary Frances was startled; she looked about, but saw no one. “Why, who can it be?” she exclaimed. “You can’t without help, I said.” Feather Flop, the big Rhode Island Red rooster, came strutting around the corner of the bench. “Why, is it you?” cried Mary Frances. “What do you know about gardening?”