Chap. VII. 
DWARF PLANTS. 
as cacti, aloes, &c., which have found their way 
here, although as yet unknown in China — a fact 
which shows the enterprise of the Japanese in a 
favourable light. A pretty species of fuchsia was 
also observed amongst the other foreigners. In one 
garden I saw a large number of a species of acorus 
with deep green leaves. These were cultivated in 
fine square porcelain pots, and in each pot was a 
little rock of agate, crystal, or other rare stone, 
many of these representing the famous Fusi-yama, 
or “ Matchless Mountain ” of Japan. All this little 
arrangement was shaded from bright sunshine and 
protected from storms by means of a matting which 
was stretched overhead. There was nothing else 
in this garden but the acorus above mentioned, but 
of this there must have been several hundred speci- 
mens. The pretty Na nkin g square porcelain pots, 
the masses of deep green foliage, and the quaint 
form and colouring of the little rocks, produced a 
novel and striking effect, which one does not meet 
with every day. 
In Japan, as in China, dwarf* plants are greatly 
esteemed ; and the art of dwarfing has been brought 
to a high state of perfection. President Meylan, in 
the year 1826, saw a box which he describes as 
only one inch square by three inches high, in which 
were actually growing and thriving a bamboo, a 
fir, and a plum-tree, the latter being in full blossom. 
The price of this portable grove was 1200 Dutch 
gulden, or about 100/. In the gardens of Su-mae- 
yah dwarf plants were fairly represented, although 
