52 CHAPTER VI. 



Ivy, the leaves of the hanging shoots are unlike those on 

 the climbing branches. The fruits become quite large, 

 but I do not know whether they ripen.* 



The Elm (Ulmus, Fig. 62) is being 

 gradually replaced as a shade tree (on 

 the St. Andre road, for instance), by the 

 Plane; a change which I believe is for 

 the worse. The papery winged fruits of 

 the Elm blow harmlessly about the 

 roads, whereas the irritating spicules 

 from the Plane tree fruits, if they do not 

 actually cause lung disease, are very 

 likely to aggravate it. The Elm was a 

 favourite village tree in France. Under 

 its shade people met to discuss politics 

 or to make bargains. " Attendez-moi 

 sous rOrme!" meant "You may wait 

 till the Greek Calends." 



The Celtis (C. austraUs, Fig. 17) 

 sometimes called " Nettle Tree," German 

 " Ziirgel," furnishes the wood for those 

 wonderful whips (Fig. 19) which the 

 carters use. They make a report like a 

 pistol shot. The handle is split and 

 twisted like the strands of a rope. This 

 wood is tougher and more elastic than 

 an osier. The leaf is oblique, like that 

 of an Elm, but narrower in outline, and 

 thicker in texture. The flower has the 

 broad spreading styles so characteristic of anemo- 

 philous (wind fertilized) plants. 



* Ficus repens much prefers a north wall ; the leaves turn yellow or 

 black if much exposed to the sun. Ficus minima is a pretty species from 

 Japan.-T. IT. 



