1900 SUPPLEMENT—RECENT INTRODUCTIONS. &C. 
55 
JAPAN LACQUER or VARNISH TREE. ‘ee 
Rhus vernicifera. 
JAPAN WAX. See Rhus succedanea. 
JAPANESE AREBORICULTURE. An art of 
producing replicas in miniature of many of the largest and 
most decorative of landscape trees—Cedars and Oaks, for 
instance—ornamental trees of the garden proper, fruit-trees, 
and Palms, practised with great success by the Japanese. 
In Japan, miniature gardens, laid out with a scrupulous 
exactness as to detail in the landscape and its accessories, 
are common, and occupy but a few square feet. In this 
country the trees are comparative novelties, though the 
numerous ways in which they may be employed as 
dinner-table, conservatory, and outdoor subjects should 
ensure for them a measure of popularity—at least, with 
those to whom money is not an object, and providing our 
uncertain climate is suitable. When correctly treated, 
these trees are properly proportioned as regards trunk 
and branch, leaf and flower, and not mere outrages upon 
Nature. Many, too, are of great antiquity—centuries, in 
fact (Fig. 470 represents a specimen of Thuya obtusa, 286 
years old, and standing but 34ft. in height)—and the 
greater the age, the more expensive they are. The trees 
are sometimes raised from seed, at others from cuttings. 
At Kew a collection of these dwarfed trees may be found. 
The method of dwarfing varies considerably with 
individuals, all of whom carefully guard their secrets. The 
chief subjects on which the art is practised are : Conifers, 
Maples, Beeches, Oaks, Pears (Fig. 471), Plums, Cherries, 
Fig. 471, 
JAPANESE DWARFED TREE PYRUS SPECTABILIS 
(Height 2ft.). 
Privets, Bamboos, Cycads, Wistarias, Podocarpnses, 
Magnolias, Orange-trees, and even Ferns. The dwarfing is 
brought about by root and branch restriction, whether the 
tree be raised from seed or from cuttings. Such restriction 
of the roots is commenced at the very ontset, and may 
| 
Japanese Arboriculture—continuwed. 
consist of either pinching or cutting. Very small pots 
and a very shallow rooting surface are employed, and 
generally the process is one of starving Only when a 
Ft 
S=.. 
i 
Fic. 472, JAPANESE DWARFED TREE PINUS DENSIFLORA, 
tree is observed to be failing is a slight stimulant 
allowed, and potting shifts are not frequent. In some 
cases the dwarfing, after a time, becomes hereditary, 
when no restriction is of course necessary. 
Apart, too, from the actual dwarfing of the trees, 
there are elaborate if fantastie systems of training, as 
in Fig. 472, which represents Pinus densiflora, specially 
trained by the late Mr. Mogi, of Tokio, and considered a 
marvellous example of the art; while still further variety 
is lent by colour-grafting, some of the Maples being very 
effective when thas treated. The illustrations (Figs. 470 
to 473) represent some of the more popular subjects and 
methods, and for them we are indebted to Mr. Hida, of 
Conduit Street, and Messrs. Yamanaka and Co., of Japan, 
respectively. In Fig. 473 may be seen (1) a fine example of 
Pinus densiflora combined with a large rock, some shoots 
of variegated Bamboo, and a tiny bronze tea-house to form a 
Bonsai: it isan example of the Japanese skill in Bonkai 
gardening; (2) Cryptomeria japonica (height 14in.), 
surrounding a large rock, with a tiny bronze temple at the 
base and a quaint pagoda at the back, another example of 
Bonkai gardening (that is, the production of a landscape 
view in a very small space) ; 3 represents a golden variety 
