“Well, here they are,” laughed Mary Frances, throwing open the play house door. “Fine,” said Billy, seating himself at Mary Frances’ little desk and helping himself to the articles needed. “But wait,” he continued. “If I show you how to plan this surprise garden you must carry out my directions. I don’t get caught with any promise to do all the work.” “Oh, no! No—indeedy! Of course not; I’m just crazy to start and I promise not to trouble you a bit.” “Well then,” said Billy, “here goes for the— GARDEN LESSON NO. 1 _Planning a Garden_ First: How much ground have you to work in? Let us say 15 x 25 ft. in front of the play house for the Flower Garden, and 15 x 15 ft. in the rear for the Vegetable Garden.” He rapidly drew an outline of the two gardens with a pretty sketch of the play house between. “Now,” he went on, “you will wish to leave a walk down the center with a border of flowers on each side,” sketching them in. “You see, the beauty of a garden depends so much on the way it is laid out that garden planning has become a profession, and the man who studies it is known as a landscape gardener.” “My,” laughed Mary Frances, “how much you learned at the garden school; you’re lots better than a seed catalogue.” “Much obliged,” replied Billy, “that’ll do for bouquets. Now listen: the way to grow early Spring flowers is to plant bulbs in the Autumn—about the first of November. Then, early in March, sometimes even in February, tiny snowdrops will pop up and, a little later, beautiful crocuses.” “Won’t that be grand!” cried Mary Frances. “Yes, in the next lesson perhaps, I’ll give you a list of bulbs and plants which you can set out at the proper time. “The best scheme for the vegetable garden is to work it out into small rectangular beds between well-kept walks,” said Billy, finishing the— LAY-OUT OF THE GARDENS “How perfect!” exclaimed Mary Frances examining the sheet of paper which Billy handed her. “I can just imagine how beautiful my gardens will look. Isn’t it a lovely idea to have that circle in the walk!” “It would look fine if it had a sun-dial built in the center,” said Billy, much pleased with his sister’s praise. [Illustration: THE MARY FRANCES PLAY HOUSE GARDEN] “Oh, Billy, Billy,” laughed Mary Frances, “I believe, I do believe you are going to surprise me!” “What are you talking about?” cried Billy. “I must be going—another lesson to-morrow, if you say so, because you didn’t interrupt more than twice while I was talking.” “It pays to be good,” he teased as he went off. CHAPTER IV FEATHER FLOP’S ARGUMENT NEITHER of the children had noticed the head of the big rooster as he peered curiously through the curtained window of the play house while they were talking. As Mary Frances came out of the door, Feather Flop walked around the corner of the house. The little girl was so absorbed in looking at the plan that she did not see the rooster. “Caw-caw!” Feather Flop cleared his throat. “Caw-caw!”