FRUIT 293 



"That little green thing would have become an 

 apricot like those Emile is so fond of. Now would 

 you like to see the ovary that gives us bread !" 



"Oh, yes ! All these things are very curious," re- 

 plied Jules. 



"Better than that, very important." 



Claire gave her uncle a needle at his request ; then 



Wheat 



with tin* delicate patience necessary for this opera- 

 tion he isolated one of the numerous flowers of which 

 thr whole forms the ear of wheat. The delicate lit- 

 tle flower displnyi <1 doarly, on the point of the nee- 

 dle, the different parts composing it. 



"The blessed plant that gives us bread has not 

 tiim> to think of its toilet. It has such weiirht y things 

 to nttend to: it must feed the world! So you see 

 what quiet clothes it wears ! Two poor scales serve 



