During our walks in the woods last fall, often we found the Solomon’s seal, and stopped to admire its curved stem, hung with blue berries. I hope one of you boys whipped out your pocketknife and dug into the earth till you found its underground stem (Fig. 115). This was laid lengthwise, its roots growing from its lower side. From its upper side, close to one end, sprang the growing plant. But what causes those round, curious-looking scars? These scars are what give the plant its name of “Solomon’s seal.” They are supposed to look like the mark left by a seal upon wax. They show where the underground stem has budded in past years, sending up plants which in turn withered away. Each plant has left a scar which shows one year in the life of the underground stem. Next spring when you find in the woods the little yellow bells of the Solomon’s seal, I think you will have the curiosity to dig down and find out the age of some of these plants. Another plant with an underground stem is the beautiful bloodroot. As its name tells you, this so-called root contains a juice that looks something like blood. Such underground stems as those of the Solomon’s seal and bloodroot are called “rootstocks.” Rootstocks, corms, and bulbs are all storehouses of plant food, and make possible an early flowering the following spring. [Illustration: Decoration] ABOVE-GROUND ROOTS But before we finished talking about roots we were led away by underground stems. This does not matter much, however, for these underground stems are still called roots by many people. Just as stems sometimes grow under ground, roots sometimes grow above ground. Many of you know the English ivy. This is one of the few plants which city children know quite as well as, if not better than, country children; for in our cities it nearly covers the walls of the churches. In England it grows so luxuriantly that some of the old buildings are hidden beneath masses of its dark leaves. This ivy plant springs from a root in the earth; but as it makes its way upward, it clings to the stone wall by means of the many air roots which it puts forth (Fig. 116). Our own poison ivy is another plant with air roots used for climbing purposes. Often these roots make its stem look as though it were covered with a heavy growth of coarse hair. [Illustration: FIG. 116] There are some plants which take root in the branches of trees. Many members of the Orchid family perch themselves aloft in this fashion. But the roots which provide these plants with the greater part of their nourishment are those which hang loosely in the air. One of these orchids you see in the picture (Fig. 117). It is found in warm countries. The orchids of our part of the world grow in the ground in everyday fashion, and look much like other plants. [Illustration: FIG. 117] These hanging roots which you see in the picture are covered with a sponge-like material, by means of which they suck in from the air water and gases.