STEMS. IQ 



Now, if we notice the stems or trunks of the trees, 

 we shall find some of them with rough bark, like the 

 oak or elm ; and some of them with smooth bark, 

 like the ash or beech. 



The stems of herbs also are rough or smooth. 

 We will bend down this stinging nettle with my stick, 

 and look at its stem ; it is one of those stems which 

 have hairs on them. Some stems, as in the wild rose, 

 have prickles (Fig. 5) ; some, as in the hawthorn, have 

 thorns. 



Then some are round, some are square, and some 

 are hollow in the middle. We will try the stems of a 

 few of the taller herbs we see, and shall very likely 

 find a hollow one. One plant with a hollow stem is 

 very common in woods and hedgerows it is two or 

 three feet high, has very divided leaves, and clusters 

 of little white flowers. But you will know an elder 

 bush if we can find one. If we cut off a branch, we 

 shall find that the middle of it is filled with a soft 

 substance called pith ; and, as country boys know very 

 well, a piece of elder with its pith cleared out makes 

 a very good popgun. 



In trees like the oak, and ash, and elm, however, it 

 is not so. I expect you have often seen the stem or 

 trunk of one of them which has been cut down. 

 How solid it is, as if it had never had any pith 

 at all ! 



What a great many different kinds of stems there 

 are ! You will find them very interesting when you 

 are able to know more about them. 



