cture between a corn-stem and a
rose-stem. Make a cross-section drawing of each."

They tried experiments, such as planting in a box six beans with the
scarred ends down, and six with the scarred ends up, and noted the
results from day to day; they placed blotting-paper between two panes of
glass, with seeds next to the glass, put the apparatus in water, and
demonstrated the growth of roots; they started one plant in the dark,
and another in a light place, grew identical peas in moist cotton or
saw-dust, broke the seed leaves from specimen beans to observe what
happened, and compared the results of distilled water and tap water as
nourishment.

Everybody agreed, however, that it was much more interesting to put on
their land costumes and work out-of-doors. Miss Chadwick, whose methods
were on the newest lines, taught rhythmic digging, which is far less
fatiguing than anyhow exertions, and was very particular about the
position of the body and the action of the spade. Miss Todd, looking on
with huge satisfaction, felt that she was cultivating girls as well as
vegetables, and that her educational experiment promised elements of
success. Certain special pupils were allowed to help to attend to the
poultry--a coveted honour as soon as the fluffy chickens and ducklings
began to be hatched; others were being trained to understand
bee-keeping; it was rumoured in the school that Miss Todd's ambition
even soared so high as buying a cow.

"Where would she keep it, though?" asked Tattie, who was practical.

"I don't know, unless on the lawn," ventured Jess.

"Whew! It would spoil the tennis-courts."

"Well, I suppose she could hire a field. It would be ripping fun to
learn to milk."

"Don't flatter yourself you'd have the chance. The seniors get all that
kind of fun, and we poor intermediates only get the spade work. I've
never been allowed to feed the chickens once, no--not _once_--and I
think it's jolly hard luck!"

"Well, after the way you stuck your fingers into the bee-hive, I should
think Miss Ormrod would hardly trust you to feed a sparrow!"

"What nonsense! I was only investigating!"

"Oh, I dare say! It sounds very grand when you put it that way. Miss
Ormrod called you 'Meddlesome Matty', and said you deserved to be
stung!"

One great advantage of the farming operations, in the eyes of the
younger girls, was that so many materials were left lying about, and it
was quite possible to obtain a considerable amou