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JAPANESE GARDENS. 
To the average Japanese a place to cultivate and stroll 
about in, is as necessaiy as daily rice, hence we see 
gardens every where. The house may be small and 
mean in appearance, but the plot of ground is sure to 
be trim and gay. 
First of all, privacy is insured by a high wall or bamboo 
fence; then, among the wealthy classes, a landscape 
gardener is called in; he looks about, takes in all the 
advantages of location, measures carefully the enclosed 
space, and- is ready for business. Three things are de¬ 
clared indispensable, one or more mountains, a miniatuie 
lake or waterfall, and a tessellated pavement whereon 
the fair ones of the household may promenade directly 
after the summer showers. 
No smoothly-shaven lawn stretches like a green velvet 
carpet before our eyes, but for a border, a trench is dug 
about two feet in width and filled in with the variously- 
colored clays, which are so abundant in Japan. The 
effect is both odd and pretty. 
Walks are now laid out and paved with curious and 
valuable stones—one of which may cost one hundrec 
yen (dollars). Variety in color is sought for, and, where 
the gardener has an eye for artistic setting, the ies 
is a thing of beauty, and promises to be a joy forever. 
The artificial mountain neit claims attention, e 
foundation is a huge pile of rocks and rubbish; ear is 
then brought in baskets and deposited to the dep 0 
several feet, then grass-seed sown, which soon springs 
up thickly and covers the mound. Thi»is to protec 
earth from the violent rains of the warm seaso • 
Fu-ji- Ya-ma, the sacred mount, is reproduced exactly ana 
its s umm it crowned with a shrine before whose altar 
the little ones of the house may be seen making their 
childish offerings. 
Should the garden lie in the neighborhood of a stream, 
a cMnnel is dug and the water turned into it; the little 
brook dances merrily along its sinuous course, turns at 
last upon itself, and rejoins the parent stream. Books 
are piled upon each other and, by means of bamboo 
pipes cunningly laid and more cunningly concealed by 
masses of verdure, a tiny cataract frets and foams and 
makes unceasing music. Further on a curious bridge 
cresses the mimic river, and often a summer-house 
perches upon a convenient rock, while from its case¬ 
ment the angler dangles his line and plays at fishing. 
That the earth may not be worn away, dikes are con¬ 
structed and constantly repaired. 
Of course where there is no available water supply, 
the master of the house must be satisfied with a pond of 
gold-fish. 
On the margin of these streams the far famed lotus 
dwells, drawing from its bed of slime vitality enough 
to spread its leaves to almost giant size, so that birds 
and frogs may rest upon them; while in the midst, 
guarded by these green sentinels, rises the stately blos¬ 
som in all its snowy beauty. 
Then the flower-beds! Masses of vivid coloring almost 
dazzling to the eye, but not sweet-scented like our more 
modest blooms. 
But the crowning glory of the Japanese garden ie its 
trees. Monarchs of the forest, denizens of yonder moun¬ 
tain range, may be seen side by side and overtopped by 
