38 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1904. 



foiuid differs from the same in America. In general, as is 

 natural, the kinship is closer between the flora of Japan and of 

 Europe, than between that of Japan and of America. Through 

 our increasing intercourse, the trees of either are becoming 

 well known to the other. American apples flourish in Japan; 

 and a beginning has been made toward the introduction of 

 Japanese fruits in California, and of ornamental trees in New 

 England. Nearly every lawn now boasts a few Japanese 

 shrubs; and one need not leave Worcester to see a truly won- 

 derful collection, in the grounds of that early and constant 

 lover of natural beauty, President Had wen, whose interest in 

 and care for these beauties from the East have done much to 

 introduce them to New England. At the Agricultural College 

 in Amherst are a group of Japanese maples that are proving 

 themselves hardy in our climate; and, if I understand correctly, 

 most interesting experiments are being performed in the graft- 

 ing of Japanese cuttings upon American stock with a view to 

 securing the delicate beauty of the Japanese foliage upon our 

 larger native trees. 



The number of varieties in Japan valuable for timber is 

 comparatively small, — due it may be to the rapid growth 

 fosteretl by a damp climate. The maple, to which I have 

 alluded, luxuriates in no less than twenty species, while in all 

 of North America, I think, there are not half that number; 

 yet with one exception they have no resemblance to ours, and 

 none of them are timber trees. They are much smaller. Their 

 leaves are far more delicate and deeply cleft, baby-hands as 

 the people poetically call them. Some of them have bright 

 foliage from bursting bud to falling leaf; and in autumn they 

 rival ours in brilliancy, giving an effect quite different, though 

 wherein the difference lies it is not easy to say. Many hills 

 are covered with them. They line the sides of river-gorges; 

 and for their beauty 'of form and color are planted in parks 

 and private gardens. Wherever they flourish, there, in the 

 days of their glory, throngs gather to warm their hearts at 

 the fireside of the gods. 



The Japanese are a nature-loving people; and make the 



