"I shall do better next year. The potatoes already show signs of
improvement."

"Good! I suppose you'll be growing 'em on top of the ground soon. Then
you won't have the bother of digging 'em, you know," went on the
fun-loving boy innocently.

"Absurd, Thomas! But I shall have some very large varieties, I feel
certain."

"Big as a watermelon?"

"Hardly, but--"

"Big as a muskmelon, then?"

"Not exactly, but--"

"About the size of a cocoanut, eh?"

"No! no! They will be as large as--"

"I mean a little cocoanut," pleaded Tom, while Sam felt like laughing
outright.

"Well, yes, a little cocoanut. You see--"

"We saw some big potatoes in California, Uncle Randolph."

"Ah! Of what variety?"