THE JAPANESE DWARF TREES. 



53 



an aesthetic nature. Generally speaking, the Japanese men are small, 

 and their houses also, the latter are built with a view to resisting the 

 elements and earthquakes better. Tiny gardens of delicate scenery 

 surround them, in which big trees would appear to be out of propor- 

 tion and harmony. 



It may easily be imagined what pains, patience, and constant attention 

 are necessary to obtain such results, and to arrest the growth of what 



Fig. 7: — Pomegranate, 150 years old. (J. Cartel- & Co.) 



would become a large tree, so that it only attains very dwarf proportions, 

 is no easy task. For if the dwarf tree lose one of its branches, or 

 characteristics, by a bough being badly trained, it is no longer of any 

 value. It has been said that these plants might be compared to 

 monstrosities or to deformed people ; but this reproach is not merited, 

 for their cultivation consists of a real restraint applied to a tree, which, 

 unrestrained in its development, would have grown freely ; [and much 



