12 The Japanese Floral Calendar. 



Like the icy spray which the breeze 

 Scatters from the stream, 

 Like the snow-flake's flight, 

 Falling petals seem." 



Probably one element of the popularity of the plum is 

 to be found in the fact that it is the first blossom to appear 

 after kan, the period of severest cold, and is, therefore, a 

 harbinger of spring-. And, as the plum is the earliest of 

 blossoms, it is called "the eldest brother of the hundred 

 flowers," "the eldest flower of mother earth," and "the 

 first of flowers." 



The plum is symbolic of womanly virtue and sweetness ; 

 and "O Ume San" is a favorite name for girls. This blos- 

 som is "often drawn athwart the moon"; and it is com- 

 monly associated with the nightingale (uguisu), which 

 "hides and sings among the flowers." This association, 

 not merely in art but also in literature, is illustrated both 

 in the second poem quoted above and in the following ( Pig- 

 gott's) : 



"Home friends change and change, 



Years pass quickly by ; 

 Scent of our ancient plum-tree, 

 Thou dost never die. 



"Home friends are forgotten ; 



Plum-tree blossoms fair, 

 Petals falling to the breeze, 

 Leave their fragrance there. 



"CettriaV fancy too 



Finds his cap of flowers, 

 Seeks his peaceful hiding-place 

 In the plum's sweet bowers. 



"Though the snow-flakes hide 



And thy blossom kill, 

 He will sing, and I shall find 



Fragrant incense still." 

 1 The uguisu is known in science as cettria cantons. 



