“And then,” broke in Albert, unable longer to contain himself, “what do you think he gave us?  It’s just no use trying, for he gave us an old piece of land below the barn.  It’s a regular old swamp; why, water stands there the whole spring long, and it takes half the summer to dry it out.  Then it gets hard as a brick.  Now what is the use of trying on that?”

“We’ll take it just the same, and so we told father,” continued Jay.  “We have just got to make that old land do something.”

The Chief nodded and pointed to George for his report.  “Same here,” began George.  “My father wouldn’t listen at all at the first; then he said I might have the hills of corn.  He threw in also an old side slope which he thinks is too poor for any use.”  George sank back in his chair in a quite dejected manner.

It was now Jack’s turn.  “You see,” he began at his lightning rate, “we haven’t much land anyway, seeing as we live in the village.  I can have the backyard, such as it is, but that’s precious little use.  It’s never been used for a garden, and it’s full of rock.  One of our neighbours says I may have a piece of her corn patch for my corn, if I’ll take care of hers, too.  Of course I took her offer.  Just had to.”

Peter took his turn last, as usual.  “We have no place at our home; too much lawn, and mother will not have it cut up.  Grandfather said I might have any place I wanted in his garden if I’d really care for it myself.”

“My!” said Albert, “what a snap!  Your grandfather has the best garden land around here.  You’ll win The Chief’s five dollars for the best garden; you just can’t help yourself.  I’d like to punch you, Peter, for having such luck.”

Peter smiled a little more broadly.  “Fin sorry the garden’s so good, but I can’t help it.”

“It’s all right, Peter,” began The Chief; “after all, boys, I believe we are not having such bad luck.  Cheer up!  We are going to surprise those fathers of yours, and have a good time out of it, too.  Jay and Albert have a big problem of draining; George has simply got to put that sandy slope in shape; it looks as if Jack would have to fill in for his garden; and Peter—­well, some of you may beat Peter yet.”

At this last Peter smiled, Jack skilfully tumbled him off his chair and Albert gave a war whoop.  The Chief called his meeting to order again.

“And now, boys, I shall see you each one separately about your garden problems.  Remember, not a word at home, for we are going to surprise the people.  And at our next regular meeting, and at all others this winter we shall have reports on the manner in which you are going to get at your work and the way in which you will beat conditions.  In this way we can keep track of each other’s work.  We must make our plans, too, on paper, which will help out.  We have catalogues to write for, garden stakes to make, and no end of things will come up.  But first you boys ought to understand a bit more than you do about the soil.  It is a storehouse of good things.  Knowledge of the soil is a key to this storehouse.