WALKS ROUND MY GARDEN. 



nothing without proof, and will doubt next whether braces grow upon the Indian brace- 

 tree V 



"Well, I certainly did not know that. What, do you say that braces grow upon a tree 

 like apples ?" 



" I do not tell you that the tree is like an apple-tree ; on the contrary, it is a fig-tree, 

 which is called ^cws elastlca, because whilst cutting the braces which it produces, they 

 draw Indian rubber from it." 



"Ah! that's a difi'erent thing; I thought you were speaking of braces with metal 

 springs." 



"That's the way in which you always believe. Those metal springs are artificial 

 springs, a wretched imitation of the Jicus elastica, or brace-tree of India ; so with the 

 roses of Mademoiselle Eulalie ; so with the sausages of the porkbutchers." 



" Let us prove to him that braces grow upon the brace-tree. — With all my heart ; here 

 is a botanical work, look for th« word Ficus. 



'^Ficus. Ficus religiosa — that's not it. Ficus bengalensis — nor that. Ficus vir ens, 

 Jicus scahra, ficus mauritana — none of them. Ficus populifolia, ficus ulmifolia. No. 

 Ficus laurifolia, ficus citrifolia, ficus crassinervia, ficus ferruginea, ficus racemosa, ficus 

 phytolacccefoUa, ficus glaucophylla, ficus scandens, ficus ruhigiaosa, ficus macrophylla, 

 ficus ngmphceifolia. No. Where can it be ? Ah ! here it is ficus elastica." 



"Well fictcs elastica, does it ex.ist 2 Yes or no. Answer. Can you read? What is 

 that before you. " 



" Ficus elastica. " 



" Well, do you believe that India exists? If you do not believe that India exists, why 

 we must show it to you on a map ; besides you know what Ponies d' Inde (turkeys) 

 are? You know what Marons d' Inde (large chestnuts) are? Now here are braces 

 produced from the ficus elastica; they are good for nothing, they grew at the greenhouse 

 at the Jardin des Plantes. There are none good but such as are brought from India 

 every year, just the same as they grow pine apples ; all foreign fruits are in the greatest 

 perfection in their own country. It is said the crop is excellent this year, the brace trees 

 are loaded. Well, do you believe me now ? Have you proofs enough of that ?" 



" Oh, yes, when you produce good reasons — " 



" Well it is just the same with the sausage-tree. Is that more surprising than braces 

 on the ficus elastica 1 If you are only willing to believe what you have seen, you will 

 not believe much my good friend. " 



The next morning they had a large cervelas a V ail (a large sausage seasoned with 

 garlic) served for his breakfast. 



"Well my friend, we have been fortunate enouf^h to get one; as nothing could 

 convince you but proofs, here it is. " 



They tasted the sausage and found it excellent. 



" Do you imagine a vulgar porkbutcher could make anything like that? 



Rlen n'cst beau que le vrai ; lo vral seul est ainiable' 

 (Nothing is beauUlul but truth ; truth alone is lovely.) 



" And yet this even is not half so good as it might be ; in the first place, it did not 

 grow in its native country, and then it is not quite ripe, but such as it is, it is quite 

 another thing from those the porkbutcher eo coarsely imitates." 



"Well, but this is V3ry astonishing." 



"What is there astonishing in it? You know very well tliat garlic grows in the earth. 

 Does not nature produce pig ? Thus you admit that nature has produced the two 

 elements with which porkbutchers make their bad garlic sausages, and you are not wi 

 to believe that she has produced these elements united in one and the same fruit?" 



VOL. 5. I 2. 



