40 JOURNAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



TREES IN A JAPANESE GARDEN. 

 By Kenhichi Okubo, of Osaka. 



Fixing on the position of trees in a garden is one of the most important 

 points of gardening. Even if there are no big stones or recks on the 

 ground, views and vistas can be well arranged with trees only. But if 

 the latter are planted without judgment the whole charm of the garden 

 will be destroyed and the effect of beautiful association lost. The 

 size and height of trees should always be borne in mind, so that 

 they may be planted closely, or more widely apart, according to circum- 

 stances. Formerly pines were treated very strictly and methodically, 

 so as to make them the one favourite garden tree, and their rounded 

 heads, which gave a fanciful decoration to the garden, were trained and 

 cultivated with much pains and skill. Recently, by adopting a different 

 style, trees of more natural growth, with but little artificial bending 

 and trimming, have come into general use, and the old way of treating 

 the trees has gone out of fashion. This has had a lamentable effect on 

 the development of our art. However, the chief rule which gardeners 

 must now observe is to follow nature as closely as possible, and keep 

 plants in their natural associations. For example, plants which grow 

 naturally in the mountain recess or in the solitary woodland should not 

 be pUnted at the water's edge, or the plant which grows naturally by the 

 water should not be introduced upon the hillside or in the park. Unless, 

 indeed, due regard is paid to differences of temperature and climate, few 

 plants will thrive. 



As a general rule, deciduous trees should never be placed in the most 

 prominent positions in a garden, though at the same time flowering trees 

 and shrubs like cherries and plums are an exception to this rule. Some 

 plants are peculiar to valleys and some to hills ; some are found at the 

 water's edge, some high up on the hills. Some few are found both on the 

 hills and near the water. 



If a tree is planted near the end of a bridge, one should be chosen 

 which will stretch its branches over it, and throw its shadow on the 

 surface of the water. By the side of a cascade, too, a tree should be 

 selected which will hang its branches across it, for it is not considered 

 to be in good taste to show the whole volume of a torrent. By the side 

 of garden seats, kiosks, summer-houses, &c, such trees should be selected as 

 will throw their branches over them and afford a grateful shade. For this 

 purpose, pines are generaUy chosen, but chestnuts and persimmons are also 

 occasionally used. Pines and other evergreens should be planted so as 

 to hang over the fences and break the hard lines of the latter. Trees 

 planted by a pond should be so placed as to throw a cool shadow over the 

 water in the heat of summer, and to look attractive in the moonlight. 



In planting a group of trees, two, three, or five should be used, and 

 they should neither be planted regularly in a row, nor be so crowded 



