BOTANY. 313 



covering of each individual branch or system of shoots, but of the main 

 stem or support of the whole of them. The leaves are therefore the 

 sources of the elaborated formative material which proceeds from them 

 to the shoots, from the shoots to the branchlets, and from the branch- 

 lets to the branches, whose union forms the main stem of the tree, just 

 as a thousand little streamlets pour together th,eir tributary waters, 

 which, united, form the broad river that rolls on to the ocean. 



CHINESE ART OF DWAKFIXG TREES. 



" The art of dwarfing trees, as commonly practised both in ' China 

 and Japan, is in reality very simple and easily understood. It is based 

 upon one of the commonest principles of vegetable physiology. Any- 

 thing which has a tendency to check or retard the flow of the sap in 

 trees, also prevents, to a certain extent, the formation of wood and 

 leaves. This may be done by grafting, by confining the roots in a 

 small space, by withholding water, by bending the branches, and in a 

 hundred other ways, which all proceed upon the same principle. This 

 principle is perfectly understood by the Japanese, and they take ad- 

 vantage of it to make nature subservient to this particular whim of 

 theirs. They are said to select the smallest seeds from the smallest 

 plants, which I think is not at all unlikely. I have frequently seen 

 Chinese gardeners selecting suckers for this purpose from the plants of 

 their gardens. Stunted varieties were generally chosen, particularly 

 if they had the branches opposite or regular, for much depends upon, 

 this ; a one-sided dwarf-tree is of no value in the eyes of the Chinese 

 or Japanese. The main stem was then, in most cases, twisted in a 

 zigzag form, which process checked the flow of the sap, and at the 

 same time encouraged the production of side-branches at those parts 

 of the stem where they were most desired. The pots in which they 

 were planted were narrow and shallow, so that they held but a small 

 quantity of soil compared with the wants of the plants, and no more 

 water was given than was actually necessary to keep them alive. 

 When new branches were in the act of formation, they were tied down 

 and twisted in various ways ; the points of the leaders and strong- 

 growing ones were generally nipped out, and every means was taken 

 to discourage the production of young shoots possessing any degree of 

 vigor. Nature generally struggles against this treatment for a while, 

 until her powers seem to be in a great measure exhausted, when she 

 quietly yields to the power of Art. The artist, however, must be ever 

 on the watch ; for should the roots of his plants get through the pots 

 into the gi-ound, or happen to receive a liberal supply of moisture, or 

 should the young shoots be allowed to grow in their natural position 

 for a time, the vigor of the plant, which has so long been lost, will be 

 restored, and the fairest specimens of Oriental dwarfing destroyed. 

 It is a curious fact that when plants, from any cause, become stunted 

 or unhealthy, they almost invariably produce flowers and fruit, and 

 thus endeavor to propagate and perpetuate their kind. This principle 

 is of great value in dwarfing trees. Flowering trees such, for ex- 

 ample, as peaches and plums produce their blossoms most profusely 

 under the treatment I have described ; and as they expend their ener- 

 gies in this way, they have little inclination to make vigorous growth." 

 Fortune's China and Japan. 



27 



