Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-10-03

In Japan the peony, although ac-
knowledged to be the royal flower of
China, is still the favorite Of the upper
classes. 1t is given on occasions of
Importance the position of honor or
the dais in the principal recess, never
Is 1t placed in the center of the room,
nor on shelf, and no other flower IS
allowed to come near its royal pres
ence. Sometimes art dictates that two
black twigs shall be grouped behind 1t,
the thought being to enhance by con-
trast its abundant life and beauty.
The lotus flower also is conceded to
have royal national rank and is calle,
the King OF Indian flowers. On festive
days the Japanese never use it, as they
associate it entirely with the spirit OF
the dead. The royal flower of japan.
of course, is the cherry blossom The
idea of floral rank is one to which the
Japanese are very sensitive and the
established laws of precedence mu ST
be closely adhered to in the arrango-
ment of their flowers. To an American
it seems perhaps inexplicable that
they should have placed the purple
wistaria high above the white, which
they mostly exclude from their compa-
sititions.
Irises stand very high in rank, but
are regarded IS difficult of arrange
ment and, therefore, the most arbi
trary rules have been evolved for their
composition. With one large flower
but three leaves are allowed: with
two flowers, seven or fifteen leaves are
used; three flowers are given thirteen
leaves, and five flowers are furnished
with eleven leaves.
So deity are thoughts conveyed bl
the arrangement of flowers in japan
that often verbal messages are unnec
essary. In November, the coquettt
sends to her over a leaf or branch y
maple. Like it." he translates, he,
love has changed
On farewell occasions those so
called returning flowers" because
they bloom twice a year, are used /,
: sUbtly express a safe return. Befor,
people that are i'll, blossoms of ;
sturdy, vigorous growth are place.
that health and strength may be sue
gested. Only very gay flowers ar
streWn in prOfuSion when supplicq
lions are made for those in aff1ictior
Prayers for rain are accompanied b
large floral pieces so arranged as L
point from right to left, that tn cas-
wind, bringing rain, may be honored
and very naturally the reverse orde
1 typlfying the west wind is employee!
when fair weather is desired
7. Border of the thin mist, shades .
> the evening sun, waves in the mornin
Z sun. companion of the moon, snow D,
g the leaf of the bamboo, moons halo
q spray-capped wave, starlit night
II beacon light, the sky at dawn, frs
snow, and golden dew are among tn
many imaginative and pretty name
e that Japanese bestow on their chry
+ santhcmuns, these flowers which al
II peal so stroIly to their poetic nature.
q In the arrangement of them, they ar
2 very careful and guard against seve
e faults: Their stems must not be c
s the same length; single blossom
l. must not turn it's back, nor present il
7 full face; three flowers must not a,
q pear to form triangle; they mus
net be hidden by leaves, nor mus
l. they be arranged in the way of steps
a al open. full blossom should never b
n placed at the base of the composition
+ and one odd one should not fall be
: tween two others alike in color.