I02 



IRISH C^\K1)1:N1NG 



jl I.V 



Tlioii .iiiotlicr lii-i.' i> plaiiU'd in a M-vlmliJ ioiiut lo 

 ijivo shadi", and uiulor this is placed a seat for qiiiot 

 rest or meditation. Heside tlie central stone, and over- 

 hang^inif the riishinjj waters, is planted a relatively 

 large and fantastic pine, with a smaller coiup.iiiioii on 

 the opposite side. On one ol' the lesser hills on the 

 outskirts of the jjfarden a tree of beautiful blossom, such 

 as a cherry or one of brilliant foliaije, is planted, while 

 on iho rocky slopes on the islands and on margins of 

 the lakes, or promontories running into the lakes are 

 planted dwarf trees, mostly pines and other Conifcne, in 

 confusing order, intermixed with rock plants and dwarf 

 shrubs creeping down to the water-edge and passing 

 into clump of iris and other moisture-lo\ing plants which 

 in turn tail ofl" into the true aquatics, among which 

 glide shoals of gold-fish, their burnished scales reflecting 

 the light most gloriously as they pass and repass in 

 their aimless qiiests. It is all so very different from our 

 western notions of what a garden ought to be, that it is 

 difficult to say whether one really likes it or not. The 

 idea is good, but the method of carrying it out is the 

 exact opposite to our own. With us the central idea is 

 the plant, and our aim to get as near nature as we can 

 under the artificial restrictions of a garden. Here there 

 is no attempt at being natural, no consideration as to 

 choice of plant and its adaptability to site and soil. We 

 plant a garden, the Japanese build it. \\'e aim at being 

 natural, the Japanese is frankly artificial. 



They use the plants in the construction exactly as they 

 use stones. Just as they hew a stone into the size and 

 shape required, so they clip, prune, twist, bend or other- 

 wise dwarf or mis-shape the tree from its natural 

 growth until they, with great skill and cunning, contrive 

 to get it into conformity with their garden scheme. It 

 is very ingenuous as a style of architecture, but elabora- 

 tory primitive in execution as a system of gardening. 

 But this feeling arises, no doubt, from the difference in 

 points of view with which the east and west approaches 

 the task of garden-making. 



Now, to turn our attention to the interesting spot we 

 set out to see and describe. The special symbolic 

 meaning intended to be conveyed by the artist of the 

 newly constructed Japanese garden at Tully was to 

 produce a representation of the life of man from the 

 cradle to the grave. Entering the beautiful, yet simple, 

 gateway one is met with bright masses of plants clad 

 with fresh pure foliage to denote birth and all the 

 promise of healthy luxuriant life. Childhood is a wind- 

 ing path made mysteriously beautiful with shade and 

 flower, and leading to the school hollowed out in one of 

 the hills beyond which is the playground with space and 

 facilities for the fun and frolic of early youth; but this 

 is soon passed as we almost suddenly stumble into 

 difficulties in the shape of hindering stones, dark arch- 

 ways, and treacherous swamps, until with a hard climb 

 we reach the dry firm ground of the period of life when, 

 after having successfully overcome all difficulties, man 

 enters upon the more placid times of middle life and busi- 

 ness or professional success. It is only, however, easy- 

 going in a comparative sense, as there are still many 

 difficult hills to overcome, stiles and other obstructions 

 to surmount, broken or rickety bridges to cross, until 

 at last we come to the choice of ways leading to the 

 bridge of ease representing the placid hours of home- 



life towards mans declining days. One is straight and 

 e,isy. the other sleep .iiul confusing, with its forking 

 and cross paths, but taken manfully will le.id to the lop 

 of the commanding hill representing the sunmiit of 

 m.ins earthly ambition, from which an easy path leads 

 down to bridge across which the wanderer finds a 

 delightful and restful garden, with seats for rest and 

 fountains of refreshing waters. Beyond and along a 

 easeful sloping p.-»th is the final rest — sombre, yet 

 strangely enticing, to the weary foot and subdued spirit 

 of the pilgrim of life. 



Such then is the spiritual character of the. to us, new 

 st\le of gardening, but to the peoples of the East so old 

 that at the opening of the christian era its beginning 

 was even then lost in the obscuring mists of the long 

 ami unrecordctl past. 



Japanese Methods of Cultivation. 



J.MWNESE methods of gardeninj^ and agriculture are 

 at present engaging the attention of western peoples. 

 That their methods of food plant cultivation are good 

 may be readily inferred from the fact that Japan can 

 raise food-stuffs on her 21,321 square miles of tillage 

 lands sufficient to support a population of 48,500,000 

 people, together with more thi;n 2,600,000 head of 

 horses and cattle, the majority of which are labouring^ 

 animals. In other words, each square mile of cultivated 

 country can support 2,277 people and 125 working 

 horses and cattle. Prc>f. King, who investigated the 

 Japanese methods of cultivation on the spot, has ex- 

 plained how this is done. Every bit of possible 

 fertilising material is carefully saved, and catch crops 

 are grown to be ploughed or dug in so as to increase 

 the amount of organic matter in the soil. Most of the 

 fertilising material is used in the form of composts, 

 carefully mixed and sheltered from the weather. Wood 

 ashes and ashes from burnt rubbish are also used. In 

 other words, the industrious Jap, by thorough tillage 

 and the intelligent use of fertilisers, gets heavy yields of 

 crops, and therefore secure a good return for his skilful 

 labours on the land. It is well to remember this in 

 view of the present popular notion that Japanese 

 gardens are fantastic combinations of rock and water 

 and dwarf trees, when the real facts are that they as 

 a nation are in the forefront of intensive culture, and 

 that what is known as a " Japanese garden " is merely 

 a pleasure spot, built and maintained to satisfy the 

 oriental artistic taste and love for the symbolic in all 

 creative works in the domain of art. 



^ ^ ^ 



Tall irises beneath the rushing rain 



Bend and recover ; 

 Like butterflies that earthly loves retain 



Their bright wings hover. 



In the blue intervals of scudding showers 



Sing out the birds ; 

 And poised and swinging in their sheaths the flowers 



Drink in their words. 



