THE TOKYO BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



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blossoms," but few people bave any idea of tbeir beauty or of tbe 

 number of trees planted in the cities of Japan. These blossoms 

 are pink and some are doubled to a great extent. ( )f course they 

 do not bear edible fruit.* In the botanical garden at Tokyo there 

 are great rows of these trees flanking the open spaces. During 

 blossom-time thousands of visitors come to the gardens who 

 would not think of coming at other times. Doubtless some may 

 see only the cherry blossoms, but some may become interested 

 in other things as well. In Japan, as in the western world, 

 science can be made popular by using appropriate means. 



In such an account as this it would not do to omit mention of 

 the Cryptomeria grove in the garden. These trees are handsome 

 conifers resembling somewhat our cedars and growing very tall 

 and straight. Visitors to the sacred city of Nikko in northern 

 Japan are always impressed with the " cedars," but the trees in 

 Tokyo are quite as handsome although smaller. The writer 

 of this article holds no more pleasant memories than of strolls 



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Fig. 43. Cherry blossoms (Priimts ycdocnsis) in the Tokyo Botanical 

 Garden. From a photograph furnished by Professor J. Matsumura. 



* Two or more species of Pruiuts are cultivated by the Japanese for 

 ornament. 



