INTRODUCTION. 



THE JAPANESE are a nature-loving people and frequently 

 give practical expression to their feelings by taking a holiday 

 siniplv for "flower-viewing." At the proper season, the entire 

 nation, so to speak, takes a day off and turns out on a big picnic, 

 to see the plum blossoms, or the cherry blossoms, or the maples, 

 or the chrysanthemums. No utilitarian views of the value of time 

 or miserly conceptions of the expense of such outings prevail for a 

 moment; for the Japanese are worshipers of beauty rather than 

 of the "almighty dollar." A few pennies on such occasions bring 

 many pleasures, and business interests are sacrificed at the shrine 

 of beauty. And, as one or more flowers are blooming every month, 

 there is almost a continuous round of such picnics during the year. 

 It is our purpose, therefore, to tell something of the flower or flowers 

 popular each month, with some folk-lore, poems, or other description 

 thereof and have it illustrated by pictures. But first we must call 

 attention to the fact, that the Japanese word hana includes, not only 

 a "flower" or "blossom" according to our conceptions, but also twigs, 

 leaves, grasses, etc.. so that the pine, the maple, and even the snow 

 may come into this category. 



We are confronted at the very outset with a chronological diffi- 

 culty in presenting this subject to Western readers. For the pro- 

 gramme of Japanese floral festivals was originally arranged on the 

 basis of the old lunar calendar, so long in vogue in Japan. By that 

 calendar the New Year came in about the 2ist of January to the 

 1 8th of February; so that it was from three to seven weeks behind 

 the Occidental solar calendar. For instance, the following is a floral 

 programme according to the "old style": 



First month (about February) Pine. 



Second month ( " March) Plum. 



Third month ( " April) Cherry. 



