66 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and powdered charcoal. The seed germinates and the little plant appears ; 

 as the roots grow they describe several twists and turns in the limited 

 space. Water is only given when it is necessary. As nutritive matter is 

 very scanty, the young tree grows but slowly, and its branches become 

 twisted spirally or are directed by numberless ties and bands, or restrained 

 by fastenings. This does not prevent the roots from stretching out in search 

 of nourishment, or in branching at their extremities. When the Japanese 

 gardeners consider they are sufficiently long, the young plant is lifted, 

 its roots are laid out, and the lower parts are replanted in a pot of small 

 size. Thus growing upwards and kept in position by props, the roots 

 carry the delicate branches to a certain height above the pot. Sub- 

 sequently the air, winds, and want of water harden them, causing the 

 circulation of liquids more difficult in the shrunken cells, which are 



L 



Fig. 17.— Chamaecypakis obtusa. 



rendered still more useless owing to the numerous contortions which 

 give to the tree a more rugged aspect, and an appearance scarcely less 

 fantastic than if it were some unreal and mythical object. 



The more vigorous the plants are the more numerous and severe 

 are the cuttings and restrictions of the principal roots and the other 

 methods of treatment, also the supply of water and nourishment is 

 curtailed. 



The pines retain their vigour notwithstanding the numerous cuttings 

 and bendings to which the branch which is allowed to remain is subjected : 

 this explains the presence of gouty stumps and excrescences from which 

 springs a weak branch with spreading foliage, which grows spirally 

 after having been twisted several times upon itself, tied, and kept in this 

 position by many fine fastenings made of brass or fibres of bamboo. 



The Japanese also endeavour, in certain trees, to change the normal 

 distribution of the branches, by favouring the development of the large 



