BOOK REVIEWS. 



69 



Part 9 is largely devoted to window and room plants, and finishes Vol. I., 

 filling 200 pages. Vol. II. commences in this part, and begins with a 

 chapter on Carnations followed by one on Dahlias. 



" The Flowers and Gardens of Japan." Painted by Ella du Cane. 

 Described by Florence du Cane. Sm. 4to., 294 pp. (Black, London, 

 1908.) 20s. net. 



In the very first sentence of her preface to " The Flowers and Gardens 

 of Japan" Miss Florence du Cane makes a statement with which it is 

 impossible to agree. She says " An apology is due to the reader for 

 adding this volume to the long list of books already written on Japan." 

 For such an altogether delightful book no apology whatever is needed, but 

 rather the thanks of all flower-lovers are due to the Misses du Cane for 

 giving them a charming book on a fascinating subject. This is not a great 

 book, nor a deep book, nor does it pretend to be a text-book. Readers 

 wishing to study seriously the mysteries of Japanese landscape gardening 

 with all its symbolism and its rigid laws and ceremonies are referred to 

 Mr. Condor's wonderful " Landscape Gardening in Japan." As Condor 

 caters for the student, so the Misses du Cane cater for the dilettante, and 

 give us the flowers and gardens of Japan as seen through European 

 eyes. The illustrations are typically from the European standpoint. 

 The predominant idea in a Japanese garden is form and line and pro- 

 portion. Colour is rather a secondary consideration. Not a word need 

 be said against the form and line and proportion in Miss du Cane's 

 paintings, but it is evident in practically very one of the fifty drawings 

 reproduced that colour, in a charming setting, but always colour was 

 the main factor which impelled her to paint. This is of course as 

 it should be in a book whose object it is to charm rather than to instruct, 

 to show us the gardens of Japan as we should see them rather than as 

 the Japanese see them. 



As examples of " three-colour " reproduction from water-colour 

 drawings these illustrations are very fine indeed. Miss du Cane 

 gives a feeling of atmosphere in an extraordinarily clever way. Some 

 of her drawings drag you right out into the open air. The texture 

 and modelling of her rocks and stones are very subtle, and the accuracy, 

 with breadth of treatment, of her flower masses most fresh and satisfying ; 

 yet happily, in reproducing and reducing her paintings for book illustra- 

 tion, these fine qualities have been preserved wonderfully well. 



Charming as are the paintings illustrating " The Flowers and 

 Gardens of Japan," the letterpress is equally interesting and delightful. 

 A great amount of Japanese garden lore, together with many excellent 

 pieces of descriptive writing, are given. The first chapter deals with 

 Landscape Gardening. Although we may learn much from the Japanese 

 in this art, how futile it seems to attempt a true Japanese garden in 

 England ! It is probable that no Englishman would ever make the real 

 thing. Even after a life's study of the subtle technicalities of the art he 

 would lack the Japanese mind, and to his unlearned fellow-countrymen 

 his work would remain a curiosity with some beautiful points and many 

 meaningless accessories. Let us learn from the Japanese, not imitate them 

 parrot-wise. It would be better almost to stick to a good honest circle 



