The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-10-13

leet nlku SAu WAS lfhlueu EOT TWO
ysars By Shichirohei Of Toxic, al q.
bert tree trainer. Unlike most speci.
mems, which were reproductions Ct
some plants existing, this plant was
trained to represent In every detail a
painting by perhaps the most famous
iapGneSe artist that ever lived, KoEin.
II was obtAjRed from the private col
lsction Of Count Okuma Of Toxic, who
valued It highly, but yielded to the
scIIeitAtlons of Mr.. Kushibiki, and a.
lowed It to come to this country. In
DE spring it produced white, bell.
shaped, small flowers, with Q fragrant
oder, and in late fall the leaves turned
q beautiful red.
Two Chabo Hiba plants of the Ne
gard style, about foot and a half
high and 270 years old, were especially
interesting. Although most of the
roots were exposed. The branches of
the one falling to one side, the second
plant springs from the centre of the
pyramid formed by the roots of the
t1t ib branches falling the other way,
thus making graceful, picturesque
and balanced Whole. Such skill and
training demonstrated in this place
can scarcely be surpassed. These
plants had the benefit Of training by
The gardener Heisaku, of Toxic.
Another Chabo Hiba was by long
odds the most interesting Of all those
eIhibited-at least from the viewpoint
q history and great age. The authen-
TIC history of this famous Chabo Hiba
dates from the middle Of the twelfth
century, the beginning Of the Kama.
Sura period, when the art Of gardening
received a great impulse at the hands
Of the Buddhist priests. In one of the
hamakura temples it was guarded
with all the care that could possibly be
given to 1t.
Through the Shotgun Regency and all
the history-making times of Japan this
plant was preserved as carefully as
any heirloom could possibly be. A
long time before the downfall Of the
ShOgun one family Of Tagaki of Toxic
were appointed by the Shotgun as gar
oeners N charge of the garden Of the
temple. At the downfall of the Sho.
gun about thirty-three years age, it
passed Into Mr.. TaGaki's possession.
Inc height Of this marvellous tree Is q
little over six feet, the diameter of the
'ruak is about one foot--a graceful
conical shape.
marvellous specimen was a crepe
myrtle, 2l6 years old, and apparently
inc upright trunk was dead. In direct
cohtradicsion Of this, however, are the
,aneus branches that shoot out in all
directions, and which are covered with
eaVes aud will blossom and bloom
beautifully In the summer. 1t is so
sensitive that If human fingers touch
me trunk the whole tree quivers. Count
|uhaina, after much persuasion, was
induced TO part with this beautiful
Specimen.
In the cultivation Of their limited
|Specialties the japanese florists are
said 10 distance those of any other
country. Dwarftiug, enlargement,
Varlegation Of leaf and petal, the en-
SOnragement Of freaks by careful arti-
neal selectien-these are the special
ues Of the natives Of Nippin, which
nave been perfected by the hereditary
patience. tact and labor Of a thousand
Years.
The lex plant. or Japanese larch, is
peculiarly pliable. strong Of root and
easy to bend and train into any shape
uesired. In Japan 1t is customary to
Sse the work Of the Japanese gardener
SN out in gardens, the effect being
unique, often forming menagerie Of
painfully grotesque animals and birds.
which to the Japanese is q representa-
uon Of high art and means Of con-
Eatulation when gardener succeeds in
Ornging out some curious designs as
YET unthought of by his competitors.
Many Of the public gardens Of Japan
are decorated with Hex. and in some
Iewns prizes are offered to the garden.
ssr who designs the most remarkable
uEures and train the plant to bring out
I'LL Its finest lines.