98 GARDENS OF THE MANDARINS. [Cuar. VI. 
as they flower freely year after year, they have 
little inclination to make vigorous growth. The 
plants generally used in dwarfing are pines, junipers, 
eypresses, bamboos, peach and plum trees, and a 
species of small-leaved elm. 
Amongst the Mandarins’ gardens, in the city of 
Ning-po, there is one in particular which is generally 
visited by all strangers, and is much admired. It 
is situated near the lake in the centre of the city. 
The old man to whom it belongs has long retired 
from trade with an independent fortune, and he 
now enjoys his declining years in the peaceful 
pursuits of gardening, and is passionately fond of 
flowers. Both his house and garden are unique in 
their way, but they are most difficult to describe, 
and must be seen to be appreciated. In this part 
of the country the building of artificial rockwork 
is so well understood, that the resemblance to 
nature is perfect, and it forms a principal feature 
in every garden. This old gentleman has the 
different parts of his house joined together by rude- 
looking caverns, and what at first sight appears 
to be a subterraneous passage, leading from room 
to room, through which the visitor passes to the 
garden, which lies behind the house. The small 
courts, of which a glimpse is caught in passing 
through, are fitted up with this rockwork; dwarf 
trees are planted here and there in various places, 
and creepers hang down naturally and gracefully 
until their ends touch the little ponds of water 
which are always placed in front of the rockwork. 
