14 THE JAPANESE FLORAL CALENDAR. 



having pink double blossoms. Sometime in the tenth century, the 

 imperial plum-tree withered, and, as it was necessary to replace it, 

 search was made for a specimen worthy of so high an honor. Such 

 a tree was found in the garden of the daughter of a talented poet, 

 named Kino Tsurayuki, and was demanded by the officials of the 

 Court. Not daring to resist the imperial command, but full of grief 

 at parting with her favorite plum-tree, the young poetess attached 

 to its trunk a strip of paper, upon which she \vrote the following 

 verse* : 



"Claimed for our Sovereign's use, 

 Blossoms I've loved so long, 



Can I in duty fail? 



But for the nightingale 

 Seeking her home of song, 



How shall I find excuse?" 



This caught the eye of the Emperor, who, touched by the 

 plaintive sentiment expressed, inquired from whose garden the tree 

 was taken, and ordered it to be returned. 



Here is still another little plum-poem : 



"How shall I find my ume tree? 

 The moon and the snow are white as she, 

 By the fragrance blown on the evening air, 

 Shalt thou find her there." 



* Brinkley's translation. 



