

Yi.>U may think it is unnecessary to devote 

 time to the special study of twigs and 

 stems, but in making a general flower 

 study we have our attention distracted by 

 \ so many and various interests ; and as 



naturally our eyes are first attracted to 

 the more striking beauty of the flowers, 

 the delicacies and intricacies of the form 

 of the stems on which they grow is apt 

 to be slurred over, and not given the attention their im- 

 portance demands, while, once we have studied them for 

 themselves, we shall have obtained an appreciation of their 

 beauty of structure that malces it impossible for us to pass 

 them over with careless touch. 



I really think they ought to take a most important 

 place in our Nature Study, for not only do stem and 

 branch control the direction of our whole spray, but they 

 give individuality and character to the various forms of 

 plant life in as great a measure as the flowers and leaves 

 themselves, and yet how often the drawing of them is 

 neglected ! A student will sometimes spend much time 

 in a careful endeavour to make a really faithful study of a 

 flower, but when he gets to the stem, he will make a few 

 hasty inconsidered strokes do duty for the expression of 

 it, or a careless jagged line, quite unlike the delicate and 

 characteristic forms he sees before him, if he would only 

 trouble to look. 



I have only just to mention a few varieties of flowers 

 to show you the immense difference in the form of their 

 stalks and stems. 



83 



