General Aspects of Commercial Gardening 17 



and a winding walk, with, it may be, a bridge or stepping stones to cross 

 it at the narrowest part. The Japanese garden does not consist of one 

 or two features, but of many, and one of the distinguishing characteristics 

 of the Japanese landscape gardener is the skill with which he combines 

 the features of, it may be, a whole countryside, in an area of quite 

 moderate dimensions. Another attribute of his skill is the success 

 that is achieved in maintaining the relative proportions of the several 

 features, and also of the trees and shrubs with which the garden 

 is embellished. In accomplishing this important object he has in many 

 instances to use trees, ornaments, &c., of so small a size as to suggest to 

 the Western mind that the garden is intended as a model on a reduced 

 scale rather than for the enjoyment of the owner. 



The garden in Japan is regarded from a somewhat different stand- 

 point from that which we consider it in this country. Here, to state 

 the case generally, we provide a garden adapted to the requirements of 

 the plants in which the owner is specially interested, with such embellish- 

 ments as may be considered necessary; to the Japanese, plants primarily 

 exist for the assistance they are able to render in the production of artistic 

 effects, and are utilized accordingly. One of the principal rules governing 

 the work of the landscape gardener in Japan is to follow nature as far 

 as is practicable, and to arrange the arborescent and other forms of plant 

 life in their natural associations. That is to say, plants which in a state 

 of nature have their home on the mountain side are not to be brought 

 down to those parts of the garden which represent 'the lowlands, and, 

 it may be, used in the formation of a flowery fringe to running stream 

 or silent pool. In like manner the plants that luxuriate in the moist 

 conditions that obtain at the lakeside are not used in the clothing of 

 the side of a hill or mimic mountain. The Japanese garden artist would 

 appear to give ready adherence to this rule, for he can readily include 

 in any given design the characteristic features of any given portion of 

 the native landscape. 



Another rule of some importance is to avoid as far as practicable the 

 planting of deciduous trees, with a few exceptions, in the more prominent 

 positions of the garden. The exceptions are deciduous trees remarkable 

 for the beauty of their flowers, such as the Cherries and Plums, which 

 are not only immensely attractive when yielding their wealth of flowers, 

 but are great favourites with the Japanese. If it is intended to plant 

 a tree near the end of a bridge, one should be selected which will spread 

 its branches over it, and cast a shadow on the water. It is not considered 

 in accordance with the canons of garden-making to show the whole of 

 the volume of water tumbling over rocks, and therefore it is enjoined 

 that in selecting a tree for planting alongside a cascade that it will 

 throw its branches partly over the rushing water. 



Shade-giving trees are considered the most suitable for planting near 

 seats and tea houses, and Pines are the most generally selected for the 

 purpose. Much the same rule applies to the planting of trees by the 



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