

KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 243 
floor of this building is raised a few feet above 
the ground level, so that the visitor gets a 
good view of the water, and other objects of 
interest inthe garden. That this isa favorite 
lounge and smoking-place with the Chinese, 
the following Chinese notice, which we found 
on one of the pillars, will testify :—‘ A care- 
Sul and earnest notice: This garden earnestly 
requests that visitors will spit outside the 
railing, and knock the ashes of pipes also 
outside.” Several fine fruit-trees and others 
are growing near the walks, and afford shade 
from the rays of the sun. On one of these, 
we read the following :—‘‘ Ramblers here will 
be excused pluckiny the fruit on this tree.” 
Near the centre of the garden stands a 
substantial summer-house, or hall, named 
“the Hall of Fragrant Plants.” The same 
notice to smokers and chewers of betle-nut 
is also put up here; and there is another 
and a longer one which I must not forget to 
quote. It is this:—‘“In this garden the 
plants are intended to delight the eyes of all 
visitors. A great deal has been expended 
in planting and in keeping in order, and the 
garden is now beginning to yield some return. 
Those who come here to saunter about are 
earnestly prayed not to pluck the fruit or 
flowers, in order that the beauty of the place 
may be preserved.’’ And then follows a 
piece of true Chinese politeness :—‘‘ We beg 
persons who understand this notice to excuse 
it!” Passing through the Hall of Fragrant 
Plants we approached, between two rows of 
Olea fragrans,a fine ornamental suite of 
rooms, tastefully furnished and decorated, in 
which visitors are received and entertained. 
An inscription informs us that this is called 
“the Fragrant Hall of the Woo-che tree.” 
Leaving this place by a narrow door, we ob- 
served the following notice :—“ Saunterers 
here will be excused entering.” This appa- 
rently leads to the private apartments of the 
family. In this side of the garden there is 
some fine artificial rockwork, which the 
Chinese know well how to construct ; and 
various summer-houses tastefully decorated, 
one of whichis called the “ Library of Ver- 
dant Purity.” Between this part of the 
garden and the straight walk already noticed, 
there is a small pond or lake for fish and 
water-lilies. ‘This is crossed by a zigzag 
wooden bridge of many arches, which looked 
rather dilapidated. A very necessary notice 
was put up here, requesting ‘‘saunterers to 
stop their steps in case of accident.” 
On the outskirts of the garden we observed 
the potting sheds, a nursery for rearing 
young plants and seeds, and the kitchen- 
garden. Here a natural curiosity was 
pointed out by one of the Chinese, which, at 
first sight, appeared singularly curious. 
Three trees were growing in a row, and at 
about twenty or thirty feet from the ground 






the two outer ones had sent out shoots, and 
fairly united themselves with the centre one. 
When I mention that the outer trees are the 
Chinese banyan (Picus nitida), it will readily 
be seen how the appearance they presented 
was produced. The long roots sent down 
by this species had lovingly embraced the 
centre tree, and appeared, at first sight, to 
have really grafted themselves upon it. 
I am afraid I have given a very imperfect 
description of this curious garden. ‘Those 
who know what a Chinese garden is, will 
understand me well enough; but it is really 
difficult to give a stranger an idea of the 
Chinese style which I have been endeavoring 
to describe. In order to understand the 
Chinese style of gardening, it is necessary 
to dispel from the mind all ideas of fine - 
lawns, broad walks, and extensive views; and 
to picture in their stead everything on a 
small scale—that is, narrow paved walks, 
dwarf walls in all directions, with lattice- 
work or ornamental openings in them, in 
order to give views of the scenery beyond ; 
halls, summer-houses, and alcoves; ponds or 
small lakes with zig-zag walks over them— 
in short, an endeavor to make small things 
appear large, and large things small, and 
everything Chinese. 
There are some of these ornaments, how- 
ever, which J think might be imitated with 
advantage in our own gardens. Some of 
the doorways and openings in walls seemed 
extremely pretty. In particular I may 
notice a wall about ten feet high, having a 
number of open compartments filled with 
porcelain rods made to imitate the stems of 
the bamboo. I shall now close this notice 
with the modest lines of the Chinese poet, 
which we found written in the “ Library of 
Verdant Purity,” and which seemed to be an 
effort to describe the nature of the garden— 
Some few stems of bamboo plants 
A cottage growing round; 
A few flowers here—some old trees there, 
And a mow of garden ground. 9p p 
We have often heard of the attempts on 
the part of the Chinese to make small things 
appear large, and large things small. It is 
a national habit. Still, however, the effect 
produced is pleasing as well as curious, and 
proves them not to be deficient in matters 
of taste. 
A walk in Howqua’s Garden is not at 
present within the compass of a fortnight’s 
journey. We dare not, however, assert that 
it will not be so in another fifty years. We 
go-a-head so fast, that nothing surprises us. 

THE IMMORALITY OF THE AGE is a standing topic 
of complaint wiih some men. But if any one likes 
to be moral, I can see nothing in the age to prevent 
him.—Gorrue. 

