[Illustration:  Elizabeth Sowing Small Seed From the Package.  Photograph by Helen W. Cook.]

“I am not going to say a word about corn.  You all remember the boys’ work of last year.  Your teacher has planned next Friday afternoon for the boys to discuss this at school.  So we shall not have our meeting, but I shall come to the school to hear their report.  I hope our girls will take notes on this.  For I know that Eloise has decided to raise corn next year; Helena is going to; and Leston will not be out of the corn contest this season.

“The cucumber is the next vegetable in the line.  This is a plant from foreign lands.  Some think that the cucumber is really a native of India.  It is believed that it was brought here by the Negro, and that a species of cucumber from Africa became finally at home in this country.  A light, sandy and rich soil is needed—­I mean rich in the sense of richness in organic matter.  When cucumbers are grown outdoors, as we are likely to grow them, they are planted in hills.  Nowadays, they are grown in hothouses; they hang from the roof, and are a wonderful sight.  In the greenhouse a hive of bees is kept so that cross-fertilization may go on.

“But if you intend to raise cucumbers follow these directions:  Sow the seed inside, cover with one inch of rich soil.  In a little space of six inches diameter, plant six seeds.  Place like a bean seed with the germinating end in the soil.  When all danger of frost is over, each set of six little plants, soil and all, should be planted in the open.  Later, when danger of insect pests is over, thin out to three plants in a hill.  The hills should be about four feet apart on all sides.

“Egg plant is another vegetable we have not tried.  It is another of those which has been improved by crossing, usually with peppers and tomatoes.  But as we are not Burbanks yet, I shall not talk of that side of egg plant culture.  Some varieties of egg plant grow to a large size but the smaller fruits, on the whole, have the better flavour.  A good, well-worked, rich garden loam is the soil for this vegetable.  The seed may be planted out in the open in little drills six inches apart.  The seed should be scattered along as lettuce seed is.  When the plants are about six inches high, transplant them to their permanent place.  They should then stand about two feet apart on all sides.  More often the seeds are started inside in March.  When the little plants are about two inches high they should be transplanted into boxes or pots.  Screen from too hot sunshine.  About the time of corn planting the plants should go into the open.  A rich soil is now quite necessary.  Again I would suggest as a good method the placing of a little well-rotted manure under each place where an egg plant is to go.  There is a rather interesting parasite which sometimes fastens itself upon the egg plant.  A parasite is a form which clings to another and takes its nourishment from this latter or host.  The parasite is a lazy shirk.  So in this case the parasite grows on the egg plant and absorbs the food which the egg plant needs for itself.  This is not an uncommon thing in nature.  When such a thing happens first pull up and destroy the poor egg plant, for the parasite is clinging too closely and persistently to be removed.