66 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



worm into four pieces, all the same in length. Then 

 he tried to get the four into his mouth to carry away. 

 The first two were easy enough, and the third was not 

 difficult. But with the fourth he had hard work, for 

 his beak really was too small. Perseverance, however, 

 won its reward, and at length all four were firmly 

 gripped, sticking out on either side like huge moustaches. 

 Then he flew happily away to his family. But what the 

 worm may have thought of the proceeding if a worm 

 can think ! is another question. 



Ill GROWING UP AND GROWING DOWN 



A Root taken out of the ground seems a plain, dull, 

 brown thing, not attractive. The leaves of a plant are 

 pretty, and the flowers are often beautiful, and the 

 fruit may be good to eat. But the root who cares for 

 the ugly root, buried out of sight ? Useful, no doubt, 

 since a plant without a root could not grow. But 

 interesting no ! 



Yet roots in their way are just as wonderful, and 

 just as interesting, as any other part. 



To give in few words the difference between a Root 

 and a Stem is not quite easy. The stem comes from 

 the root ; and the two are so joined together that at a 

 certain spot they are one. Often it is difficult to say 

 exactly where the one ends and the other begins. 



Some one may say, " Oh, that is easy ! A root is 

 brown and a stem is green." But many stems of trees 

 are brown, and some roots are green such as those of 

 certain Orchids which grow in the air, and never go 

 under ground. 



It has been said that stems may be known apart 



