98 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Tvhole, there float billows of fragrance. Generally they are free from 

 disease, but of late importations from France, have a mysterious 

 plague which hampers their growth, and prevents their blooming. 

 The last peony manual speaks of it. I have had specimens ten years 

 and they never got well. They are the most uncanny looking affairs. 

 Club footed with no fibrous roots, to feed ^ the plant. Cut off all 

 the roots first and just plant the bud, and you may dodge the diffi- 

 culty. 



Every effort has been made to cure them. One grower used 

 barrels of lime to no purpose. I have planted them in slacked lime 

 to no purpose. I have planted them in slack lime, and that didn't 

 cure. In sheer desperation, I put about a tub full in strong lye. that 

 killed the disease and killed all the plants. In buying never accept 

 any of them, they are non-mercliantable. People are sometimes 

 alarmed by finding great nodules on the roots. These are called 

 nematodes. They are perfectly harmless. You will find them grow- 

 ing on the most robust plant. They are much like alfalfa nodules, 

 and I think rather help than hinder the plant. One great trouble 

 with poenys is they will take their time to come to their best. Take 

 Karl Rosenfield, for instance. This is probably the best of the 

 fleep reds. It bloomed gloriously at home where it was born, but Jt 

 has been a sore disappointment when sent away. I lived one hundred 

 I'liles from where it originated, and for six years never got a bloom. 

 What was the trouble? When we get a valuable plant we Avant to 

 multiply it as fast as possible. And so we cut up and divide and 

 replant, as fast as it will bear, and faster. Now the more robust and 

 grander the peony the more time it takes to bloom. This one should 

 have 4 years to come to its best. The Baroness Schroden, one of the 

 finest on earth will often bloom freely the first year. I saw a row of 

 them in full blast among many others, that had hardly a bloom at 

 the same age. The worst abuse I ever had was from a man who 

 bought some high .priced ones, and because they did not bloom the 

 first year, he made the air thick with maledictions. Then he sent 

 me some blighted buds. There had been a heavy late frost that nip- 

 ped them, and he seemed to think I had done it. When there is a 

 danger of a late frost, throw burlap over your plants, for some of them 

 cannot stand the strain. There is a great call for peonies, we have to 

 buy about a thousand dollars worth a year, besides all we can raise. 

 Many eastern firms are strained to the limit to fill their orders. 

 There is a great change of late years in the quality grown. Most 

 leading growers are discarding the old sorts, and raising only the 

 best. Too mtny kinds have been thrown on the market. Father 

 Terry named 100 when he should have named only 10. Another 

 prominent grower has placed several new ones on his list which 

 should have remained in obscurity. We have originated about 30 

 new sorts. I never have seen finer ones, anywhere. But we dare 



