

Compare the stalk of a rose, 



violet, lily, primrose, harebell, 



and any other well - known 



flowers. Are there two in the 



least bit alike ? And do you 



not see that, if you do not 



bestow the same care 



and attention as you 



have on the flower on 



its necessary stem, much 



of the character and 



conviction of the former 



is lost ? ^^'hy, the rose 



stem alters even in 



different varieties, and 



though this may pass 



unnoticed by a careless 



eye, show a drawing 



faulty in this respect to 



an ardent horticulturist, 



and he will pounce on 



the error at once ! 



Look at the ethereal beauty of a harebell or a primrose 



stem, and then at the sturdiness of a wild hyacinth, and notice 



that it is not only in contour and consistency they differ, but 



in texture as well. The bluebell stem is thick and succulent, 



its surface smooth and shiny ; the harebell is so slight and frail, 



it requires almost a fairy touch to express its airy lightness 



?p f 



the 



primrose, though thicker, is still slender, and its hairy texture gives 

 quite a different effect. 



Having noticed the form of any particular stem, our next step is to 

 spare no pains with its drawing ; if wc express it with a careless, 

 " wobbling " outline, jagged and irregular, 

 it will look poor and weak. We must 

 endeavour to get a firmness of drawing 

 into it with decisive lines, or what a poor, 

 broken specimen it will look ! This firm- 

 ness and precision can only come with 

 careful practice. 



I am sitting as I write in our little 

 suburban garden, and although doubtless 

 were I in the country 1 could find many 

 more examples, there is still ample material 

 here to illustrate my meaning. Here is a 

 trail of young Virginia creeper. Notice its 



