68 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



have arrived at a certain height, the Japanese insert a series of grafts 

 of several other varieties, and so obtain a great diversity in the form and 

 the coloration of the foliage of the same tree. 



The Imitation of Grafting. — Japanese gardeners and amateurs 

 are wont to conceal the normal grafts ; but, on the other hand, they give 

 as much prominence as possible to the apparently abnormal-looking 

 grafts which, to the uninitiated, have the appearance of being real, but 

 which represent anomalies and monstrosities. That is, as one can see in 

 some examples, where pines appear grafted on maples, and vice versa, 

 which in reality are simply the result of a pretence of grafting. 



Two plants are often planted side by side in the same vase and 

 grafted by being in close proximity to each other. As one of the two 

 has usually more strength than the other, it partly surrounds and hides 

 the other, and they grow so that the result appears to be a true graft. 

 In other cases the trunk of a maple is twisted with that of a very 

 flexible young pine, and both are trained together. After a time the 

 trunk of the pine encases that of the maple and completely hides it. The 

 same method is followed with two different kinds of conifers. 



Decorative Use. — Without comparing the ornamental part which 

 these curious plants can play in the decoration of rooms and gardens to 

 that which is filled by plants generally used for that purpose, they can 

 produce in most cases very quaint effects. 



A little Japanese scene can be easily arranged in one corner of the 

 garden, in which the outline harmonises perfectly with the other objects 

 employed ; or, instead of a scene of this kind, the trees can be placed on 

 the grass where the effect of some of them crowning a rock after the 

 manner of rock-plants, would have somewhat of an Oriental appearance. 

 But it is principally in the decoration of the house that their bizarre 

 elegance is seen to the best effect. 



We may now consider whether these plants can live in Europe. Our 

 climate, although different from that of Japan, should be no obstacle to 

 keeping these lilliputian trees in good condition. In England there are 

 numerous specimens of these trees, growing as they would in Japan. 

 King Edward VII. possesses superb specimens at Sandringham, and in 

 France M. de Montesquiou has a collection of magnificent Thuyas, which 

 since 1889 have grown considerably, but which, on the other hand, are 

 models of vigour and grace. 



Many people consider that these trees are only suitable for houses, and 

 this mistake has led to the loss of a great number. On the contrary, the trees 

 for the most part should be grown in the open air, and should be placed 

 in a semi-shaded position, either in the garden or on the terrace. This 

 need not prevent them from being brought into the rooms from time to 

 time as curiosities or to take their part in decoration, but they should be 

 taken into the open air afterwards. 



In order to keep these trees to their original form it is necessary 

 every spring to practise pruning rigorously, and during the summer to 

 severely nip off the buds, particularly in the case of those with deciduous 

 foliage, for often some buds are inclined to grow away to the detriment of 

 the others, which spoils the beauty of the shape of the trees. 



