74 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. V. 
process is to select the very smallest seeds from the 
smallest plants, which is not at all unlikely, but I cannot 
speak to the fact from my own observation. I have, 
however, often seen Chinese gardeners selecting suckers 
and plants for this purpose from the other plants which 
were growing in their garden. Stunted varieties were 
generally chosen, particularly if they had the side 
branches opposite or regular, for much depends upon 
this ; a one-sided dwarf tree is of no value in the eyes 
of the Chinese. The main stem was then in most cases 
twisted in a zigzag form, which process checked the flow 
of the sap, and at the same time encouraged the pro- 
duction of side branches at those parts of the stem where 
they were most desired. When these suckers had formed 
roots in the open ground, or kind of nursery where they 
were planted, they were looked over and the best taken 
up for potting. The same principles, which I have 
already noticed, were still kept in view, the pots used 
being narrow and shallow, so that they held but a small 
quantity of soil compared with the wants of the plants, 
and no more water being given than what was barely 
sufficient to keep them alive. Whilst the branches 
were forming, they were tied down and twisted in 
various ways ; the points of the leaders and strong 
growing ones were generally nipped out, and every 
means was taken to discourage the production of young 
shoots which were possessed of any degree of vigour. 
Nature generally struggles against this treatment for a 
while, until her powers seem in a great measure ex- 
hausted, when she quietly yields to the power of art. 
The Chinese gardener, however, must be ever on the 
