Sam let the soil dribble between his fingers. It was damp and some of it stuck rather than falling back to the ground. But it was enough to tell him what he needed to know.

"This is rich soil, Mr Frodo," he said to the hobbit watching him.

"That's good, isn't it?"

Sam nodded. "It was too poor to grow much before. But now I can grow any vegetables you want."

Frodo thought about that for a minute. "I don't know, Sam. What do you think is best?"

Sam smiled and told his master his plans for Bag End's garden.