SINGING-BIRDS AND FLOWERS, ETC. 177 



trees (a shrub with us), but here' I have measured 

 the stem fourteen feet in circumference, and the tree 

 forty feet in height. The flower of course is single, 

 of a plain red or variegated with white. The azaleas are 

 so prolific that they form the chief cover in many parts ; 

 when found growing together with fern, pheasants are 

 pretty sure to be there also. Pink, orange, and mauve 

 are the only three colours I ever saw. The colour 

 seems to depend on the locality, as it is rare to find two 

 plants of different colours together. Violets are nearly 

 as common as in the south of England, but all scentless. 

 Some of the campanulas are exceedingly pretty, and 

 rich in colour, particularly a large blue one, which was 

 always a great favourite of mine. The maple-tree is 

 very much cultivated for its varied autumnal colourings. 

 An old lady once showed me a tree, or rather what was 

 left of it, on which she had grafted twenty-four kinds 

 of maple at the same time. There were still left about 

 six, and this on a very small portion of the tree. The 

 Japanese are great adepts in the art of grafting, as well 

 as in their peculiar dwarfing propensities. An oak, 

 gnarled and ancienHooking, ten to twelve inches in 

 height, a fir or maple of similar dimensions, is a 

 favourite fancy amongst these people. 



I have already alluded more than once to their 



M 



