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 most differ from those of all other countries. The rest of us only show the tops of plants or just the flower itself in arranging flowers, while the Japanese show the whole growth from where the plant leaves the ground up to its tip.

To determine the proper distance for which the branches should be kept together to form the parent stalk, until the eye has become trained in recognizing it, hold your hand about the stems as shown in the cut. Then take the line from above the forefinger to the surface of the water.

No two branches must be exactly the same height or point in the same direction. They should all turn upward at their tips to give a sense of aspiration, of the stretching heavenward of the plant's growth.

Next cut off all ill-placed or superfluous twigs, leaves, or flowers. By this is meant [73]