46 The Japanese Floral Calendar. 



In spite of the fact that these flowers are used at the 

 autumn moon festival, the hagi and the susuki (= obana) 

 are, according to Mr. Conder, among "flowers prohibited 

 for auspicious occasions." 



Of the varieties of lespedeza the red ranks first. 



The hagi 3 (bush-clover) is said to have attached to it 

 several "fables, chief amongst them being that in which 

 it is represented as a maid beloved by a stag." 4 It also 

 figures, somewhat more perhaps than the others of this 

 category, in Japanese literature. The following poems are 

 examples : 



"The bush-clover wavers tenderly in the morning breeze, 

 But the pearls on the leaves enjoy safely their brief happiness.'' 



or, concisely: 



"Ah ! the waving lespedeza. 

 Which spills not a drop 

 Of the clear dew." 



"The rotten bush-clover is gathered together, 

 In order to construct the fence of the Imperial palace." 5 



"The deer lying on the bed made of bush-clover, 



Cries out full of pathos and tenderness. 

 We can not see the form of the lovely creature, 

 But the voice is clear and fascinating." 



"The sound of the wind is dull and drear 



Across Miyagi's dewy lea, 

 And makes me mourn for the motherless deer 

 That sleeps beneath the Hagi tree." 



3 See frontispiece. 



4 It is "termed the stag's mate, doubtless on account of its blossoming at 

 the time of the year when these animals pair off." It is also associated with 

 the sleeping wild boar. 



6 A satire on the men of Hagi in Choshu, because they took a prominent 

 part in the Restoration of 1867-8. 



