Louis Trinkle, age 11, of Allentown, Penna., for his questions

How does poison ivy hurt us?

This nasty little plant is waiting for hikers and summer campers in the woods and scrublands. You can recognize it from the three glossy leaflets and, when you see it, the smart thing is to go somewhere else. It is not safe for a young person to try and uproot a patch of poison ivy and it is certainly not wise to burn it.

Poison ivy has an irritating oil in its leaves,, stems and roots. If we get any of this on our skin it causes itching, sores and blisters. We can get it by touching any part of the plant and even by touching the fur of an animal which has brushed against the plant. When burned, this oil goes off into the air. Vile can even get poison ivy blisters from the smoke of the fire and it is very foolish to breathe this smoke into our lungs. So, let's learn to recognize this unfriendly plant and avoid it.