“What is a dibber?” asked Albert.

“That is for you to look up.  If you have any old rake or hoe handles bring them along for dibber making.  Good-night, boys.”

Off into the night they scampered—­a jolly, sound lot of lads.

V

THE WORKSHOP END OF THE GARDEN

“Before we go to the workshop we might take up the methods of planting our vegetables.  Then if any fellow has worked out a table, Peter, the star printer, may strike off copies for all of us,” began Jay, after calling the meeting to order.  “I’d be glad to hear from any of you fellows who have done anything on this matter.”

All was quiet.  Finally Myron arose and began to read from a paper covered with writing.  “The carrot—­common name of the Daucus Carota—­a biennial, indigenous to Europe, believed by some botanists to have been derived from the common wild carrot.”

“Where’d you copy that stuff?  No table can be made from that!  Imagine a fellow out planting carrots and reading before he sows:  The carrot—­a bi—­bi what, biped, did you say, Myron?”

Albert chuckled away and Myron dropped into his seat saying angrily, “I tried hard, anyway.  It took me a whole evening to copy just the carrot.”

“I should think it might have.  Has any fellow a really simple table?”

“I’ve worked at it,” Peter replied modestly.  “I think I have something here that will really be of use.”  At this Peter spread out on the big table a neat piece of work.

Peter’s outdoor planting table

Name          depth to                  distance apart
plant             seeds             furrows
Bean (Bush)    2     in.        12-20 in.             3 ft. 
Beet           1-1/2 in.         4-9 in.         12-15 in. 
Cabbage          1/2 in.        20-24 in.             3 ft. 
Corn           1-1/2 in.            3 ft.           3-4 ft. (hills)
Lettuce          1/2 in.          6-8 in.         12-18 in. 
Musk melon     1     in.          4-6 ft.           4-6 ft. (hills)
Onion            1/2 in.         4-12 in.         10-12 in. 
Parsley          1/2 in.            6 in.             1 ft. 
Pepper           1/2 in.           18 in.             2 ft. 
Potato         5     in.        12-18 in.         24-36 in. (hills)
Pumpkin        1-1/2 in.         8-10 ft.          8-10 ft. (hills)
Radish           1/2 in.            3 in.           6-8 in. 
Tomato         1/2-1 in.            3 ft.             3 ft. (hills)
Turnip           1/2 in.            6 in.            12 in.

“That’s all right,” and The Chief laid a hand on Peter’s shoulder and he smiled across at Myron.

“Each one of you boys ought to know how to make a working plan of his garden.  I showed Jack how to make his coldframe plan.  It is well done.  Now gather about the table and I will make a plan of a supposed garden.”