How The Chinese Make Dwarf Trees

We havo Hl! known from childhood how the Obinese cramp thoir women'a leer, and so manage to mako them " keepers at home," but hovv the}' eontrive to grow miniature pines and oaks in flower-pots for half a century has always boon iuuch of a secret. It is the product chiefly of skillful, long conünued root-pruning. Tliev aim, fifst and last, at the seat of vigorous growlb, eudeavoring to vveakeo it as far ns raay cousist with the presorvation of life. They begin at the biginning. - Tuking a young plant fsay a seedling or CQttiDg of a cellar) vvhen only tvro or thrco inches high, tbey cut oiF its taproot as soon as t hils othur FOOÜets enongh to li o apon, and replant it in a Bhallovv earthun pot or pan. Tho end of tho tap-root is generally made lo rest on the bottom of the pan, or on a i'.at stone within it. All u vial clav is théo put into tbe pot, munh of it in bits the si.e of beans, and just enough in kiru! and quantity to furnish a scanty nouriehmeot to tho plant. "Water unoi'gli is given to keep it in growth, but not enongh to excite a vigopous habit. So, likewiae, in the application t' lïght and heat. As tho Ohineso prido themsclvos also on tho shapo of their miniature trees, thoy use Btrings. Wires, nnd pegs, and various other meobanical cootrivaoees, to proraote pytnmotrv of babit, or to fasbioh their pets into odd fancy tigures. ïhus, by i ie use of vary ehallow pots thegrowlh of the tap-root is out of tho qnestion; by the uso of poor soil, and litlle of it, and littlo water, strong growth is provented. Then, too, the tap and side ropts being withio easy reach of tho gardenor, are shortened l;y bis prunjiing-knife, or searod with h8 hot iron. So tho littlo treo, finding itself hoaded on every sido, gives up tho idea of strong growth, asking only for life, and just growth enough to livo and look well. Accordingly, each new set ot leaves becomos more and mere stunted, tho buds and rootlets are diminished in prpportion, and at lungth a balance is establi.slied between every part of the ' tree, making it a dwart in all respects. ' In some kinds ot trees this end ia reached in three or four years; in others ten or fifteon years aro nocesuy. Such is fancy borLiculturo among the Celestials. in mÈ in .i