20 



SUMMER 



it grew you could trace the spiral instinct and habit belong- 

 ing to all the genus. But the screwing in this passage had 

 the effect of strengthening the stem and increasing its power 

 of direct growth. It enabled itself to grow horizontally and 

 in one general direction by twisting its fibres, just as you 

 can increase the stiffness of rope or string by tightening 

 the ravels of its skein. This method is adopted in quite 

 another form both by the black bryony and in a less degree 

 by the honeysuckle. Almost the normal growth of the 



BLACK BRYONY 



beautiful black bryony is in the form of a twisted faggot of 

 stems, which support one another in the upward march, just 

 as the bundle of fibres within one hop shoot. It makes a 

 very complete contrast with the white bryony with which 

 it has no affinity except in name. The one has grey, 

 furry, odd-shaped leaves. The other's leaves are dark and 

 very shiny, shaped with precision to a heartlike form. You 

 scarcely notice the stem of the white for its leaves and 

 tendrils. The curled stem of the black make one of the 



