64 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a fragment of porous rock, of coral or madrepore, the outline of which 

 is in harmony with that of the trees, which is allowed to remain. Many 

 of the pigmy trees imported into Europe have been trained in this manner, 

 and their branches have grown on to the rock or the piece of fern trunk 

 which formed their support. One can understand that by this operation 

 the cells become wasted, and the circulation of the sap is hindered. Thus 

 the young tree becomes deformed, or rather assumes the distorted shape 

 which is wished for. 



Suppression and Mutilation of the Roots. — Stunted vegetation 

 is greatly due to lack of nourishment and to the very limited space in 

 which the roots are placed, and which they quickly fill as they grow, 

 in their effort to escape downwards. The pots should be changed at 

 intervals of several years, but the new ones should be but little larger ; 

 the plants do not resent this treatment in any way. The entire or partial 

 cutting of the taproot, and mutilations of the principal roots, have a con- 

 siderable influence in the final result. Even if nothing were done for the 

 suppression of roots, the tap (or principal) root, restricted in its develop- 

 ment, soon becomes weak or dies ; the rootlets, also restrained in their 

 growth, are unable to develop rapidly enough or in sufficient quantities 

 to draw from the soil the nutritive elements required for the normal 

 nourishment of the plant. 



The result of this treatment is a general, very noticeable, altera- 

 tion in the habit of the plant, which continues, nevertheless, to live, but 

 in a sorry and miserable manner. This fact is observable, but in a less 

 marked degree, in plants in European gardens which have not been 

 repotted at the right time. 



Treatment of Old Trees. — Notwithstanding the perseverance and 

 patience which they bring to bear on the formation of trees which they 

 have raised from seed, the Japanese often wish to gain the same result 

 more quickly. So they search the mountains, the sides of cliffs, and 

 wooded districts, for plants already stunted, twisted, and deformed, or 

 laid low by storms, and to which the situation where they grow has already 

 added a curious, irregular, and picturesque appearance. Or, again, they 

 select in the nurseries subjects whose appearance suggests that they would 

 be susceptible to the intended treatment. As the roots of these plants 

 are far too plentifully developed for them to be kept in the small vessels 

 for which they are intended, all the large roots are cut off and only a few 

 small ones left just to prevent the tree perishing, and for this purpose 

 short roots are the most suitable. The result of this operation is to 

 hinder very considerably the growth of the plant. 



In repotting, if the subject is suitable, part of the stock is left out of 

 the earth in the small vases, and the trees are kept in positions similar to 

 those which they have been accustomed to. As to the formation of the 

 branches, those which are twisted are kept, and those that are not required, 

 and which spoil the general effect, are suppressed. Others are bent down 

 and contorted in order to fill places devoid of foliage, so as to be in keeping 

 with the picturesque appearance, and the effect which is desired. Then 

 twistings are practised, bending those which are too vigorous or which 

 take a bad direction, just as is done with seedlings. The trees remain 

 puny and stunted, from the roots having but a limited space to develop 



