in Botany, that part of a plant arising out of the root, and which sustains the leaves, flowers, fruits, &c. By washing and rubbing the stems of trees, their annual increase is promoted; for the method of doing which, see the article Tree.

STEM of a Ship, a circular piece of timber into which the two sides of a ship are united at the fore-end; the lower end of it is fastened to the keel, and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. The stem is formed of one or two pieces, according to the size of the vessel; and as it terminates the ship forward, the ends of the wales and planks of the sides and bottom are let into a groove or channel, in the midst of its surface, from the top to the bottom; which operation is called rabbling. The outside of the stem is usually marked with a scale, or division of feet, according to its perpendicular height from the keel. The intention of this is to ascertain the draught of water at the fore-part, when the ship is in preparation for a sea-voyage, &c. The stem at its lower end is of equal breadth and thickness with the keel, but it grows proportionally broader and thicker towards its upper extremity. See Ship-Building.