158 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



The stems, for instance — of some kinds certainly, 

 and it may be true of all — go gently round and round, 

 pointing a little towards the east, towards the south, 

 towards the west, towards the north, and then toward 

 the east again, so completing the circle, over and over 

 again, day after day. And not only the main stem, but 

 lesser stems which branch out from it, are believed to 

 follow the same plan. 



These movements are so very slight, so very slow and 

 quiet, that they cannot be seen. They can only be 

 made out by most delicate and exact measurements. 

 Such measurements have been taken by those who have 

 given their lives to the study of plant-life. 



It is supposed, though not yet known with certainty, 

 that each separate leaf may likewise carry on its own 

 tiny movements, daily, in circles. Though we speak of 

 " circles," the actual movements are believed to be, 

 more strictly, not exact circles, but ovals — or what is 

 known in Astronomy as " ellipses." 



This fact, which probably is true of all plants, is 

 much more markedly seen with Climbing Plants. If 

 we examine one of them, we shall see how it twists in 

 and out of a trellis-work or round and round the stem 

 of another plant. And it does this in a most curious 

 way. As the stem lengthens, its tip travels round and 

 round in the air, hunting incessantly for something to 

 lay hold of. Then, finding a support, it bends around 

 that support, embracing firmly its new friend. 



If you happen to live near a Hop-garden, you can, at 

 the right season, study the growing Hops, and can see 

 how they gradually mount and hold hard and hang in 



