Little Men

In fall, each student harvests the crop they have grown in their garden plot that year. Some of their vegetable crops are plentiful. Jack and Ned sell Mr. Bhaer twelve bushels of potatoes, Emil and Franz provide Plumfield with a bountiful harvest of corn, Ned grows a large bean crop, and Demi provides a good yield of lettuce and turnips. Dick and Dolly patiently grow parsnips and carrots. Rob manages to grow a huge pumpkin that Mrs. Jo uses to make pumpkin pie.

Some of the other students have less success with gardening. Tommy’s attempts at growing vegetables fail due to his poor planning, but he kindly grows thistles to feed to the donkey instead. Billy’s garden is overtaken by weeds, but the servant Asia secretly hangs oranges from the dead tree on his plot so that he has something to pick at harvest time. Stuffy grows large melons that he wants to sell instead of share with the other boys, so they play a trick on him by carving the word “pig” on the melons.

Both girls are successful gardeners, choosing plants that suit their interests and personalities. Daisy, who is an attentive grower, cultivates all different types of delicate and beautiful