The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-01-06
A Chinese Garden.

A Chinese Garden.
A correspondent of Fcks Magazine,
writing from China, says Il wish to tell
YOU something of the beauties of this land.
There are those who think there can be no
beauty here, yet the people themselves call
their country the Flowery Kingdom. Could
your readers take climb over the hills
here at any time of the year, if they are
lovers of flowers and ferns, their eyes would
be feasted and their hearts made happy
What can be more lovely than, in early
spring, to see these hills covered with the
lovely azaleas? Mr.. Fortune, traveller in
China and collector of botanical specimens,
says :-"Most people have seen and admir-
ed the beautiful azaleas which are brought
to the Chiswick fetes, and which. as indi-
vidual specimens, surpass in most instances
those which grow and bloom on their ma
tive hills; but few can form any idea of the
gorgeous and striking beauty of these aza-
lea-clad mountains, where, on every side,
as far as our vision extends, the eye rests
on masses of flowers of dazzling brightness
and surprising beauty"
Then, too, there are the honeysuckles
wild ones.) clematis and the fragrant gly
cine; these all climbing among the hedges
and on trees, hanging their pretty flowers
over the mountain paths and filling the air
with fragrance. There, too, are the many
ivies, so kindly overgrowing and covering
up all unsightly objects, making them in
stead objects of beauty. Tucked away in
among the rocks are the pretty ferns, so
beautiful, SO cool,looking; not the least at
tractive among these is the climbing fern.
do not want you to think this list con-
tains the names of all the pretty flowers to
be found here among the hills. There are
many others for which, not being botan-
list, have no name. There are many, too,
that I have not seen, for there are other
plants here which require most of my time,
native plants, too, not as attractive-looking,
perhaps, but more precious in the eyes OF
their Heavenly Father, These require our
time; the other nice flowers are only for
our recreation hours. There are still other
flowers we can enjoy at all times, having
them in our own yard. Of these l will
write at another time. I send you pho
tograph of portion Of Chinese flower
garden, where, as may be perceived, water
is made very important feature.
Though their gardens are not arranged
according to our Western plan, yet they are
places of beauty, and it is surprising how
much beauty and variety they can have in
so small space There is no smoothly
shaven lawn, no babbling brook, no foun-
tains, but most of the space is taken up in
buildings, tea houses fitted up with pretty
Chinese pictures, colored g lass windows,
mirrors and screens, and few foreign, Gu
rious singing birds and fragrant flowers.
Here in the pleasantest weather the Chinese
men and few women sit and enjoy their
tea and little dishes of fancy desserts, and
a good long chat with their friends, their
eyes being feasted by the beauties outside
of running vines and pretty flowers that
fill the air with their fragrance.
Outside of these tea houses, which are
connected together by curiously winding
passage, ornamented here and there with
quaint carvings and odd figures, is what
accords more with our ideas of garden,
and it is place of beauty; still l think
Western gardener could improve it much.
Here is pond crossed by zigzag bridges,
large stagnant pool, a thing of beauty
when covered with the large, cool lotus
leaves, with its large bright pink and its
pure white flowers; but before these appear
there is no beauty there, for the water is
SO murky that it is only occasionly ly that one
can catch glimpse of the little gold fish
with which it is filed. The sides, though,
are covered with pretty overhanging vines
and ferns and bushes.
The rockeries are odd and pretty. They
are not merely piles Of stones, but display
ingenious masonry, representing a cave,
with many winding passage ways. If one
starts in he is surprised at its many wind
ings, which, of course, make it appear much
longer than it really is, and wonders if he
will never reach the other end, or find him
self again at the place of starting, for at
one time he is led by his guide to the top,
getting glimpse of light, then down, and
still deeper down in the dark, in and out,
back and through, zigzag, and every con-
ceivable way, always new path, and never
retraversing those already passed, until at
last he has passed through all. Vines
grow SO readily here that walls and stones
are soon covered with green, and are trans
formed to objects of beauty. The roses
and honeysuckles, the camellias and azaleas,
the peonies and many other flowers all add
to the beauty of the place. This is Chi
nese Paradise.