• Zbc Stor« of tbe Stem 33 



The gardener frequently cuts away the growing 

 point of plants to force them to make more leaves 

 and branches, or to send out a richer bloom. For 

 instance, if the tips of chrysanthemum stalks are 

 clipped off, the bloom thrown out from the sides of 

 the stems will be much finer and more profuse. . 



Every plant begins with a single cell. This cell 

 has an outside case, a soft, jelly-like mass, and within 

 that an atom of fluid, called cell-sap. We are not 

 now speaking of things that can be seen by the 

 naked eye. A good microscope is needed to make 

 cells visible. The jelly-like part is the most import- 

 ant ; some cells dispense with the sac. A cell en- 

 larges, divides, forms new cells ; so plant structure is 

 built up. 



Cells united form cellular tissue ; this is most 

 abundant in thick, fleshy plants. There are millions 

 of cells in a very small plant; countless billions in a 

 great tree. Cells built together, in various ways, 

 form the tall thick stems, the divided branches, the 

 many-shaped leaves, the variously beautiful flowers 

 which to our minds compose the plant. 



As the cells lie close together, sometimes the walls 

 give way, and from a long line of cells a tube is 

 formed. Some cells are built together in such fashion 

 as to leave spaces between which form tubes also. 

 When we consider that the most delicate silken hair 

 3 



