The Dolores star., 1905-12-08

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that the Japanese. who have proved
themselves to be among the most dar-
ing and skilful fighters of the age. are
also the cleverest gardener in the
world and the most ardent lovers Of
flowers and bloss0ms-so strangely
contasted are the qualities of this re-
markable nation.
From January to December" says
writer on Japan, the land of the
Aikado is one beautiful garden, with
aa almost unbroken succession of fiow-
err and blooms-plum blossoms in
February. cherry. blooms in April.
azaleas through the summer, chrysan-
themums in October, and camelias in
December: while In every month of
the year is to be seen a rare wealth
Of evergreens and dwarf trees in every
kind OF fantastic shape, all grown and
eended with infinite skill and patience.
The fact Is that every Japanese is born
q gardener with an instructive passion
Eor flowers, and from his earliest years
he is carefully taught the science Of
Aoriculture''
1t matters nothing whether his gar
den consists of few square yards or
stretches over many acres; there is
not a square foot of it that is not
turned into beauty. Although the gar
den may be no larger than an average
drawing room it is transformed into
an exquisite landscape. with minia-
ture streams. waterfalls, and bridges,
with cool grottos and wood-fringed
mountains. winding walks, lakes and
islands-each perfect in proportion
and Illusion. But beyond and apart
from all this horticultural skill IL the
cultivation of flowers and blossoms,
which is with the Japanese almost n
religion.
Many Flower Festivals.
Every flower in turn has its festival.
when the Japanese make holidays and
flock in thousands to the public gar
den, to revel among the blooms they
love. 1t is under the blossoms of the
cherry in the exquisite gardens of
Ueno park that hundreds OF young low
ers meet for the first seeing" and be-
gin their wooing under the most idyllic
conditions
But the most notable and pictur-
esque of these spring gatherings is
the garden party given by the Mika-
do when the cherry trees are in their
fullest blossom and the royal gardens
are moving kaleidoscope Of color
and life. To this most picturesque of
functions all the great mobiles and la
dies Of Japan, the ambassadors, the
great personages of court and state,
the distinguished visitors, are invi-
ted. At signal the hundreds of bril-
liant guests form an. avenue through
which the Emperor and Empress walk
from their royal pavilion to the strains
OF the national anthem. At the head
Of the imperial procession walk the Of
ficers of the guard in their rich trap
pings; the Emperor walks next with
the. gentlemen Of his household. fol-
lowed by the Empress and her ladies'
in-waiting. The great mobiles come
next. and behind them the representa-
tives of foreign courts and other dis
tinguished guests fall in.
Reception by Royalty.
Thus through the glorious gardens,
ablaze with flowers and STEPPED in
perfume, the many -colored procession
winds its way to where the cherry
trees put forth their bravest blossoms,
and here, in front of pagoda
wreathed and smothered in cherry bios
SONS, their majesties take up their ,po-
position and receive, with gracious
bows and greetings, their many
guests. When this ceremony is over
tho guests scatter and refresh them
selves at hundreds of little tables.
spread beneath the trees. while the
court geishas-hundreds in number