II. THE PLUM. 



THE plum-blossom has already been mentioned in connection 

 with the pine and the bamboo for New Year's decorations, but 

 it deserves a month by itself. As it begins to blossom, in some 

 parts of the country, in January, and often continues in bloom till 

 March, it might represent any one of the first three months. But, 

 as most of February generally comes in the first month of the old 

 calendar, it is doubly appropriate for the plum. This blossom is 

 emblematic of perseverance, because it sometimes forces its way 

 out through the snow with which its branches are laden. This is 

 illustrated in the following poems, the first from Huish's Japan and 

 Its Art, and the second from Piggott's Garden of Japan : 



"Ice-flakes are failing fast 

 Through the chilly air, and now 

 Yonder trees with snow bloom laden 

 Do assume the wild plum's guise. 

 With their mass of snowy flowers 

 Gladdening winter's dreary time." 



''Amid the branches of sil'vry bowers 

 The nightingale doth sing; perchance he knows 

 That spring has come, and takes the later snows 

 For the white petals of the plum's sweet flowers." 



(From Chamberlain's Classical Poetry of the Japanese.) 



"The flowers of the plum-trees 

 All through the day make snow-light, 

 Moonlight through the night. 

 Like the icy spray which the breeze 

 Scatters from the stream, 

 Like the snow-flake's flight, 

 Falling petals seem." 



Probably one element of the popularity of the plum is to be 

 found in the fact that it is the first blossom to appear after kan, the 

 period of severest cold, and is, therefore, a harbinger of spring. 



