Lily-kin and Rose-kin 131 



The corn at six weeks old is more sturdy than 

 when it first rises above ground, but this is mainly 

 because the second joint of the stem is larger than 

 the first, and the third larger than the second. So 

 if we push away the earth from the base of grow- 

 ing corn we find that the portion closest to the 

 ground is more slender than the portion above. 

 But the increase in the diameter of the corn-stalk, 

 lily-stem, or palmetto-trunk is entirely limited 

 to the earliest period of growth. Some of the 

 oldest palmettos in Florida are noticeably slen- 

 der. 



Among all the lily's many kin there is but one 

 native plant which grows stouter as it grows old. 

 This is the yucca or bear-grass of the Southern 

 States, which is interesting to botanists as a con- 

 necting link between two great classes of plants, 

 for it is a monocotyledon in everything except its 

 mode of growth, and in that it resembles the di- 

 cotyledons. For the kin of the rose grow stouter 

 and sturdier with every year of life. 



The main stem and older branches of a rose- 

 bush have a tough bark, which peels off readily in 

 strips. If we examine this carefully we find that 

 it consists of two portions. The outer layer is 

 thin and colorless, and in an old rose - bush it is 



