FRUITS AND FLOWERS OF NORTHERN JAPAN. 59 



plants stand five or six feet in height and bear enormous flowers, a 

 foot and more across and seemingly in every hue and in every 

 possible mixture of all hues. Trul}' as I have sat and gazed 

 upon the wondrous display I have felt ready to exclaim, "This 

 is the queen of flowers." 



With this exception I saw no noteworthy attempts at cultiva- 

 tion of flowers in Yesso. Many were the charming little gardens, 

 usually at the rear of the house, but always commanded by the 

 best rooms. But Japanese gardens would require a lecture by 

 themselves. Believe me, they have a charm all their own. They 

 comprehend much within a limited area. Mountains, waterfall, 

 river, bridges, knotted and gnarled heroes of a thousand storms, 

 with shrubs and flowers, rockwork and appropriate animal life, all 

 within the limits of a few square yards if need be ; but all pre- 

 sented in a manner to inspire respect, admiration, and wonder, — 

 such are some of their most striking peculiarities. 



I have detained you already over long ; if I have succeeded in 

 giving you some faint idea of the floral wealth of the region I have 

 treated of, I am more than satisfied ; and appending the list of 

 selected specimens not mentioned I will close : 



Adenophora verticillata. 



Artemisia {sp. ?) . 



Caltha palustris, var. Japonicus. 



Clematis fusca. 



Crawfurdia Japonica. 



Punkia {sp. ?). 



Gentiana {sp. ?). 



Hydrangea hortensis, var. Japonicus. 



Lilium cordifolium, 



Nyraphaea pygmaja. 



Paeonia obovata. 



Potentilla palustris. 



Pueraria Thunbergiana. 



Spiraea Kamchatica. 



Taraxacum officinalis. 



Trillium erectum, var. Japonicum. 



Trillium {sp. ?). 



Veratrum album. 



Viburnum dilatatum. 

 " Opulus. 

 " Wrightii. 



