GARDENS AND GARDENING 43 



ance with their own ideals the Chinese are most skilful and 

 accomplished gardeners. Given a piece of ground, no matter 

 if it be small, and devoid of all natural beauty, or badly situated, 

 they will patiently transform it into a mountain-landscape 

 in miniature. With strange-looking, weather-worn rocks, 

 dwarfed trees, bamboos, herbs, and water, a piece of wild 

 country-side is evolved replete with mountain and stream, 

 forest and field, plateau and lake, grotto and dell. A network 

 of narrow winding paths traverses the garden, and rustic 

 bridges in various designs are thrown across the infantine 

 streams. The whole effect is often encompassed within a 

 comparatively few square yards, though the perspective is 

 one of seemingly many miles. In all the larger gardens, 

 closely associated with and usually in part overhanging a pool 

 where the Lotus-lily is grown, a small pavilion is erected. 

 Here the proprietor and his guests resort to drink tea or wine, 

 chat, and admire the various flowers. When no male guests 

 are present the garden is frequented by the female members 

 of the family, with whom it is ever a favourite sanctum. 



The Chinese do not cultivate a very great variety of 

 plants, and the contents of the various gardens are much the 

 same, though necessarily the selection is modified by climate 

 and locality. To all the flowers grown in Chinese gardens some 

 peculiar significance or aesthetic value is attached. An orchid 

 {Cymhidium ensifolium), called " Lan hwa," is regarded as 

 the "king of flowers," the modest appearance of the plant, 

 and the delicate odour of its blossoms, representing the very 

 essence of refinement. The " Mei hwa " {Prunus mume), owing 

 to the beauty and perfume of its flowers, which are produced 

 in winter when few plants are in blossom, is very highly prized 

 and regarded as a " flower of refinement." Around Peking 

 the same vernacular name and attributes are attached to 

 P. triloba and its double-flowered form. The Winter- 

 sweet, " La-mei hwa " {Meratia prcecox), is similarly esteemed. 



The various Bamboos, emblems of grace and culture, and 

 beautiful at all seasons of the year, are indispensable garden 

 plants. " No man can live without a Bamboo tree in the 

 immediate vicinity of his house, but he can live without meat," 

 is a favourite Taouist saying. The Chrysanthemum, " Chu 



