1904.] KSSAY. 



67 



been g:ii-l;iii(l('(l willi hlooiii, and so many siK'cics of clioico 

 plants wci'c lost, and had to We reintroduced. Now perhaps 

 we wonder how they come agiiiii to the land that had been 

 swept bare and desolate. It is a pretty story, as follows: 

 The monks wei'c early comers from the South, coming in little 

 bands, and built their monasteries there, and horticulture 

 revived by their efforts. Within the walls of every monastery 

 was included a garden for vegetables, which was an important 

 part of a monk's diet, it w^as as necessary as sleeping cells. 

 They were skilled gardeners, and while they gave attention to 

 the vegetable garden, the physic garden was well tended, and 

 there grew blossoming plants as well as simple herbs. In 

 times of war the monasteries w(^re respected and the gardens 

 grew ai)acp, and before long flowers were again growing in 

 profusion. In the court yartls of the fortresses there was no 

 room for these gems; hardly a blade of grass dared to show 

 its head between the stones; but, by and by, times grew less 

 fierce and then gardens were planted within the walls, and 

 gradually they crept in different ways, until the air once more 

 was laden with their sweetness and fragrance. \A'ith the 

 Jai)anese, the word garden does not always signify a place 

 where plants grow, it may be acres in extent or it may be 

 encompassed by the walls of a tiny dish, it is always a product 

 of art, and is always beautiful. They excel in this particular 

 cult; the secret of their success is in their simplicity of treat- 

 ment. In arranging flowers for decorative purposes harmony 

 of color must be taken into consideration. I think the art 

 and science of arranging flowers is not acquired, but is a gift 

 bestowed on a person, to be able to make exquisite blendings 

 of color to greet the eye, in fact, making a pleasing flower 

 picture that will })roduce and receive rapt attention, is the 

 happy possessor of a charming faculty. Another important 

 feature is to guard against crowding, which not only hurts 

 the flowers, but destroys th(> artistic and tasty effect. Take 

 the rose for instance, it should depend upon its own foliage 

 for greenery, and not mingletl with climbhig asparagus, smilax 

 or ferns. It has an individuality of its own, and when grouped 



