The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-06-02
THE FLOWERS OF JAPAN,
FLORAL, ATTRACTIONS OF THE
MIKADo's EMPIRE.

Crysanthemum the Chief Flower.
In the spring in Japan the plum and
cherry blossoms are the great attraction.
The fruit of these trees is worthless, but
the flowers are as large and as double as
a small rose. These trees are planted in
great numbers about the temples. The
grounds of the famous temples of Uyeno
in the CITY of Toxic are visited in Febru-
airy and March every day by hundreds of
people who go there expressly to feast
their eyes on these cloudlike masses of
pink aud white beauty. At Mukojima,
Just above Toxic, the road extending
along the bank of the river is lined on
both sides for several miles by these
trees.
When they are in bloom the streets are
actually thronged on pleasant days by
people who come to see the flowers, and
the smiling faces and bright costumes of
the pleasure-seekers, together with the
natural beauties of the place, make one
almost feel that he has been suddenly
transported to Fairyland. A favorite
drink at this season is a cup of pale tea
with cherry blossOm floating on the
top.
The roses of Japan are scarcely worthy
Of mention, but the Wistaria and Aza-
leas surpass anything of the kind to be
seen in America In April and May the
scarlet Azaleas glow like camp-fires on
the mountain sides, and the white ones
look so snow-lil1e that one almost expects
to see them melt away in the presence of
their flaming sisters, while the Wistaria
puppies the bold bluffs, or clambering up
the quaint thatch roofs of the farm
houses, adds one more charm to pictures
already enchanting. The latter is often
trained to form beautiful arbors. Some
times the clusters are from thirty to
thirty-6v inches long.
After the Azaleas and Wistaria comes
the Shobu or Blue Flag. Nowhere, per-
haps, is this cultivated to such an ex-
tent and with such success, as in Japan.
Large beds containing scores of varieties
can be seen at Horikiri, near Toxic, if
one is fortunate enough to go there at
the proper season. These beds are often
bordered by rows of fragrant calla lilies,
and it is quite favorite excursion with
both the native and foreign residents of
Toxic to go up the river in pleasure
boat as far as Horikiri, and have cake
and tea at one of the many charming
rest-houses inside this garden.
In the summer months the moats of
Toxic are covered with the sacred lotus.
Buddha, whom millions of the japanese
still worship, is usually represented as
resting on one of these flowers, and
among the decorations of Buddhist tenn
pies artificial lctus- blossoms are always
prominent This flower is either white
or rose-colored, and rises little above
the water, instead of being deftly buried
on it. Still the moats, with their cover
ing of thick blue-green leaves, and the
exquisite waxen-petaled flowers, are
often suggestive of lilied lakelets in
America. The eroots of the lotus plant are
used by the natives for food, and it is
said that the plants in the moats which
lie around the present residence of the
mikado yield quite rich revenue, a
portion of them merely having recently
been let to a seller of lotus roots for about
four hundred dollars year.
Out in the country in the summer we
fnd piles of Mountain Hydrangea white
almost as Scotland's snow wreaths; airy,
Argus-eyed lilies with great golden
hearts; pink -tasseled mimosas with
quivering frond-like leaves; fragrant
clematis twining lovingly about old
stumps and trees, as if TO screen their
unsightliness; ivies luxuriant as those
that clothe the square Norman towers of
Yorkshire's old churches; and mosses-
oh, such wealth of them delicate
maiden-hair, graceful lycopodiums, and
lichens silver-gray with tiny coral-tipped
cups uplifted to the sylvan deities. The
feathery bamboo can be seen everywhere,
and occasionally one sees a palmyra palm,
while evergreens are so numerous that a
japanese landscape never looks brown
and bare.
But the flower of Japan is the chrysan-
themum. According to an old super
stition, the ''dewy juices in the heart of
the chrysanthemum are elixir of life. {"
1t is the mikadO's crest, and is a favorite
in the decorative arts of the country.
From 1886 to 1890 there were two
mikados ruling or attempting to rule in
Japan, and the war carried on to settle
the supremacy of the rival mikados is
known in history as the War of the
Chrysanthemums.
These flowers bloom in early autumn,
and last until midwinter. They are seen
in almost all colors and sizes, and they
vary in shape from that of the regular
China as.er to that of the irregular rag.
ged robin. Every year there is an exhi-
bition of chrysanthemums, in Toxic,
which is very interesting. In the gar.
den where it is given, small booths are
erected in which are represented scenes
in japanese life, and also tableaux from
the history and mythology of the coun.
try. The figures are images in clay ol
plaster of paris, and the costumes arc
formed by covering these images with
wire or bamboo frames and training
chrysanthemum plants to cover these
frames.
Before the chrysanthemums are gone,
camellias begin to appear of which there
are many varieties; indeed, the tea plant
itself is said to be one.
Tho c.v,alliac IN Iaranp lilya fbnp,