The Cherry. 



21 



leaves; these come later; there is only one glorious burst 

 of blossoms, veiling every bough and twig in their delicate 

 mist ; and the soil beneath each tree is covered deep out of 

 sight by fallen petals as by a drift of pink snow." (Hearn's 

 Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan.) 



It is also to Professor Hearn that we are indebted for 

 the following: "About this mountain cherry (yamasakura) 

 there is a humorous saying that illustrates the Japanese 



JSLOOMING CHERRY-TREES AT ASUKAYAMA, TOKYO. 



love of puns. In order fully to appreciate it, the reader 

 should know that Japanese nouns have no distinction of 

 singular or plural. The word ha, as pronounced, may 

 signify either 'leaves' or 'teeth'; and the word liana, either 

 'flowers' or 'nose.' The yamazakura puts forth its ha 

 (leaves) before its liana (flowers). Wherefore, a man 

 whose ha (teeth) project in advance of his liana (nose) is 



