226 A Tioelve Days' Tour 



wheat here, July 21., "dead ripe." I observed a curious red- 

 bearded wheat, which I had never seen elsewhere ; but, in 

 general, the wheat was of very inferior varieties, ears thinly set, 

 and straw very slender. 



We visited " the Fountain," a delightful resort, about a mile 

 from the town, situated in a deep valley, almost a ravine. It is 

 a spring, whether chalybeate or not I was unable to ascertain, 

 to which the pleasure -seekers, who visit Dinan in great num- 

 bers from Jersey and Guernsey, resort in the morning to drink 

 the water. The descent to it from the town is exceedingly 

 abrupt ; the walks near the bottom turn almost at right angles, 

 but, as they are bounded by hedges, one can walk with safety. 

 In warm weather this is a most agreeable place. 



Rennes, July 23. — This town, the capital of Brittany, is one 

 of the most regularly built cities in France. We found the 

 botanic garden a pleasant promenade, but the collection of 

 plants exceedingly meagre. A fine specimen of the Xatirus 

 Sassafras was the only object of any interest : this measured 

 3 ft. in girt at 6 ft. from the ground. It was Saturday, and 

 market day : we were surprised at the immense concourse of 

 country people. Provisions were cheap and abundant : fowls 

 \s. \d. each, ducks \s. 3d. each ; butter S^d. per pound ; some 

 fine plums, called " La Madeleine," and blue perclrigon plums, 

 the latter from walls, attracted our notice. We were surprised, 

 at this early season, to find filberts nearly ripe, and abundance of 

 mulberries. Vegetables, in general, were small, and very in- 

 ferior to those exhibited in the markets of London. The 

 butcher's broom (J?uscus aculeatus) was used here extensively 

 to brush off flies in the butcher's market. We were pleased with 

 the breed of cattle : the cows, in particular, appeared so exceedingly 

 docile, they all bore a strong resemblance to the most esteemed 

 Alderney cows ; this extends nearly throughout Brittany. The 

 breed of pigs seemed to us perfectly ludicrous : some yearling 

 store pigs, for which they demanded twenty-four francs each, were 

 so long-legged, that, on observing a person scattering some peas 

 on the ground for them to eat, we felt exceedingly curious to 

 ascertain in what manner they could possibly get at them. Much 

 to our relief, these " daddy long-legs " knelt down and ate their 

 peas most reverentially. I questioned the farmers respecting 

 their predilection for thin bodies and long legs, when they 

 might so easily import our short-legged fat-carcassed pigs : 

 " Ah, well, Monsieur, I don't like your fat ; it is only fit for 

 savages." He spoke the sentiments of his countrymen : a 

 Frenchman hates fat — and silence. 



We were much interested with the agreeable " Promenade du 

 Tabor," adjoining the Jardin des Plantes, which commands in- 

 teresting views of the surrounding country ; numerous seats are 



