The art, however, is not entirely free from unnatural eccentricities. To a limited extent the clipping and carving of trees and bushes into such shapes as mountains, water-falls, boats, and buildings, may be noticed in ancient and even modern gardens; but such vagaries are kept within the bounds of moderation. For the most part the artificial contours thus imparted to certain trees and shrubs, are a more or less conventional imitation of favourite types of growth observed in nature. The force of character displayed in less frequent rather than in commonplace types is to the Japanese mind one of nature's chief charms.
