. The Chief took girls and all out into
his potting shed. This was once an old woodhouse; now a shed with
benches running along two sides of it. Under the benches were great
heaps of soil. Pots and pans were piled in one corner and garden
implements were neatly put up on the walls.

"I call this a pretty nice place for work," said Eloise in tones full of
real interest. The Chief nodded smilingly at her, for there was a bond
of sympathy between the man and this real outdoor girl. Eloise had a
greater appreciation of the work than any one of the others.

"Where did that splendid window box come from?" asked Josephine.

"That is one the boys made last winter especially for the school. I
shall have to give you girls some group work first. Then I'll
demonstrate potting and slipping to you all together. Eloise and
Josephine will start to put the drainage material into the pots. Ethel
and Dee may do the same for the window box. Put in your curved pieces of
pot over the drainage hole, then about an inch of drainage material.
There is a wooden mallet. Crack up some bits of old flower pot as you
need them. Outside is a half barrel of old pots. Instead of using all
pot for this half inch of drainage material, use some charcoal. In that
barrel marked charcoal you will find plenty of pieces. The charcoal is
not only good for drainage but helps keep the soil sweet. Helena, Miriam
and Katharine will mix the soil. Here are some firkins and peck
measures. To every three measures of soil from that pile there, which is
nothing but garden soil, add one measure of sand and one of leaf mould.
Now, my leaf mould over there in that tub isn't real mould from the
woods. You see the part desired in leaf mould is vegetable matter. I can
get that from old rotted leaves and rotted sods. Notice, girls, that you
see no green grass in that soddy matter I have shaved off with my
spade--only the under surface of the sods. This surface is full of
vegetable matter in the form of young roots. Stir up all these portions
thoroughly.

"Now, Elizabeth, look at these pots. Some are brand new, some are
clogged with soil and green matter. Soak the new ones in a pailful of
water and clean and wash the dirty ones."

"I'd like to ask why I am to soak the new pots, and why, since soil is
going right back into these old pots, I have to clean them. I should
think the soil clinging to the sides would help out."

"Yes, I should like to know that, too," said Miriam,