The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-08

Shogun as gardeners in charge of the
garden of the temple, in which was
| this famous Chabo Hiba At the down.
fali of the Shotgun, about 80 years ago,
IT passed into Mr.. Takagi's possession.
The height of this marvellous tree is a
| little over six feet, the diameter of the
| trunk is about one foot-a graceful
| conical shape
A marvellous specimen was a crepe
myrtle, PIG years old, and apparently
| the upright trunk was dead. In direct
| contradiction of this, however, are the
vigorous branches that shoot off in all
directions. and which are covered with
leaves and will blossom beautifully in
the summer. 1t is so sensitive that if
human fingers touch the trunk the
whole tree quivers. Count Okuma, at
ter much persuasion, was induced to
part with this valuable specimen.
In the cultivation of their limited
specialties the japanese florists are
said to distance those of any other
country. Dwarfing, enlargement, var
legation of leaf and petal, the encour-
agement of freaks by careful artificial
selection-these are the specialists of
the natives of Nippon, which have been
perfected by the hereditary patience,
tact and labor of a thousand years.
The lick plant, or Japanese larch, is
peculiarly pliable. strong of root and
easy to bend and train into any shape
desired. In Japan it is customary to
see the work of the japanese gardener
set out in gardens, the effect being
unique. often forming a menagerie of
painfully grotesque animals and birds,
which, to the japanese, is a representa-
ton of high art and means of con-
graduation when one gardener sue
ceeds in bringing out some curious de-
signs, as yet unthought of by his ccm-
petitors. Many of the public gardens of
Japan are decorated with lick. and in
some towns prizes are offered to the
gardener who designs the most re-
marka BILE figure and trains the plant
to bring out all it's finest lines
The lex is taken when young and.
by liberal use of wire and string, is
Bonded and tied into picturesque shapes.
So pliable are the small stems and so
powerful and strong the root that no
evil effect is felt by the plant when it
is tied up in the shape it is forced to
assume: and. as a result, in the course
of two or three years the plant has as
summed the shape of a bird, which it
holds as long as it retains life. The
root represents the foot of the plant,
which rests in a huge ball of earth
Small rabbits. dogs, turtles, frogs, and
all kinds of barnyard fowl are repre-
scented, as well as dancing bears and
dogs on their hind legs, begging for
food The lex bears small white
flower like the petal of a chrysanthem-
UNI and the stems and branches of the
plant. when in full bloom, are covered
with these petals.
huge cranes, standing five feet high
are constructed with long, sharp bills.
and said to be three or four years old
The Asakusa gardens of Toxic, adj
joining the great temple dedicated to
the goddess of mercy, show in their ia
nous displays of flowers in season
every variety of curious designs. The
matchless Mount Full appears over
and over again in miniature. Tortoises,
cats, small foreigners with hats and fe-
males in crinoline, houses, wagons and
what not appear in living forms of
green: tiny trees, an inch or two high,
balmy pines, oaks and bamboo, cacti.
striped grass and rare plants of all
imaginable varieties. The borders of
the gardens are made of clipped tea
plants.
Not many miles from Asdkusa is a
park, the surrounding wall of which
constitutes a magnificent floral dis
play Immediately above the granite
wall rises a hedge of five or six feet
high. beautifully trimmed. 1t is COM
posed entirely of azaleas, camelias and
laurels, enameled with scarlet flowers,