The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-10-23


catnip?" asked.
"Do You call those stems, when they
don't stand up?" was Johnny's reply.
eyes, those are stems"
"Theyre round" said Johnny, Sand
smooth. Catnip is fuzzy little, and
the stems are straight"
Anything more ?"
"The leaves are bigger than pusley
leaves, and thinner and SOFTER" said
johnny, comparing them.
eve haven't finished with the stalk
yet" said. "Can you tell me any
thing more about it ?"
That's all know" said Johnny.
How about the color ?"
It's green.
Is the pusley-stem green ?"
"Some of it, and some of it's almost
white, and some is almost red queer,
isn't it ?" he went ON spreading the
plant ont as it grew in the garden.
"The under side of the stems is pale,
and the upper side is reclaimed, l
guess, in the sun"
at looks like it," said "what is
the color inside ?"
"Shall L break it ?"
Certainly"
Johnny bent the pusley-stem with
both hands, and to his great surprise it
snapped short off.
"Oh - he cried, chow brittle it is !;
| didn't think it would break SO sud
den"
=" Try the catnip-stem.
{" 1t won't break" said Johnny.
Gut it with my knife"
{" It's tough" said Johnny, "and
woody and hollow. The stalk is square
but the hole is round"
/ took the knife, cut the stem across
at joint, and said 81 don't see any
hole here"
Johnny was puzzled. "See," / said,
splitting the stalk lengthwise, "the
hollow is closed up at the joints where
the branches begin"
81 shouldn't have thought of that, F"
said Johnny. "What lot of things
there is to learn about one stem"
"We've scarcely made a beginning
yet" / said. "But before we go fur
ther let us recall what we have already
found out /:
The catnip stalk is square stands
up ouIaiShO nus oeiOhS O"oh 40
slightly fuzzy; is green ; is rough and
woody; will not break easily; is
hollow, except at the joints !; and"
"That's all 1 can think Of, said
Johnny.
And the pusley stem is round lies
flat on the ground is smooth brittle /;
pale green below, and red OIL top; solid
Are you sure of that ?"
Johnny split pusley stem it's whole
length, and said there was no sign of a
hole in it, adding meditatively, a mo-
ment after 1t takes great deal of
study to find out all about a plant, don't
it? if it is weed.
GA very great DEAL" said.
:" think l know all about these,
now," said he.
90, no - said L, "not nearly. You
haven't learned anything about the
roots yet, nor the branches, nor how
they grow, nor about the flowers, nor
the seeds, nor when they come up in
the spring, nor when they die in the
fall, nor what things eat them, nor
what they are good for, nor what their
relations are, nor"
"I'll never be able to learn all that y
cried Johnny, fairly frightened by the
magnitude of the task he had under
taken. "And there are such lot OF
plants ~
E" 1t would be terrible task, indeed, y
I replied, If you had to learn it all al
once. But you haven't. Just keep
your eyes open, and take notice of the
different plants you see, and you will
get better and better acquainted with
them every year. The older you grow
the faster you will learn, and the more
you will enjoy it. In few years it will
be pleasanter than play to you.
q hope 80, said Johnny, resolutely
Z" for I've got to learn them all. III
try anyhow. "-UriStian Union.