“What is your idea about having the children taught?  Will the regular teachers do it?”

“All the children have some nature study, and simple gardening can be run into that, our superintendent tells me.  Then I know something about gardening and I’ll gladly give some time to the outdoor work.”

“I’d like to help, too,” said Roger unassumingly, “if you think I know enough.”

“If you’re going to have a share in planting and working three gardens I don’t see why you can’t keep sufficiently ahead of the children to be able to show them what to do.  We’d be glad to have your help,” and Mr. Wheeler shook hands cordially with his new assistant.

Roger was not the only member of his family interested in the new plan.  His Grandfather was public-spirited and at a meeting of citizens called for the purpose of proposing the new community venture he offered money, fertilizer, seeds, and the services of a man for two days to help in the first clearing up.  Others followed his example, one citizen giving a liberal sum of money toward the establishment of an incinerator which should replace in part the duties of the dump, and another heading a subscription list for the purchase of a fence which should keep out stray animals and boys whose interests might be awakened at the time the vegetables ripened rather than during the days of preparation and backache.  Mrs. Smith answered her nephew’s expectations by adding to the fund.  The town contributed the lot, and supported the new work generously in more than one way.

When it came to the carrying out of details Mr. Wheeler made further demands upon the Club.  He asked the boys to give some of their Saturday time to spreading the news of the proposed garden among the people who might contribute and also the people who might want to have their children benefit by taking the new “course of study.”  Although James and Tom did not live in Rosemont they were glad to help and for several Saturdays the Club tramps were utilized as a means of spreading the good news through the outskirts of the town.

The girls were placed among the workers when the day came to register the names of the children who wanted to undertake the plots.  There were so many of them that there was plenty to do for both the Ethels and for Dorothy and Helen, who assisted Mr. Wheeler.  The registration was based on the catalogue plan.  For each child there was a card, and on it the girls wrote his name and address, his grade in school and a number corresponding to the number of one of the plots into which the big field was divided.  It did not take him long to understand that on the day when the garden was to open he was to hunt up his plot and that after that he and his partner were to be responsible for everything that happened to it.

Two boys or two girls were assigned to each plot but more children applied than there were plots to distribute.  The Ethels were disturbed about this at first for it seemed a shame that any one who wanted to make a garden should not have the opportunity.  Helen reminded them, however, that there might be some who would find their interest grow faint when the days grew hot and long and the weeds seemed to wax tall at a faster rate than did the desirable plants.