83 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



beautiful flowers, we trust our bearers, appreciating our position, will be indul- 

 gent, assured tbat their minds and fancies will amply compensate the insuffi- 

 ciency of our means. We think it is safe to assert that, at the present time, no 

 class of plants of equal value is receiving less attention in horticultural litera- 

 ture than the Paony. Is it because the Pa3ony is too well known, and there- 

 fore common ? or because it is not deemed worthy of notice ? If such be the 

 case, we cannot concur in such opinions, and if we shall do something towards 

 awakening and reviving interest in this one of the most striking and valuable 

 floral productions of China and Europe, we shall be pleased. 



Paeouies are commonly divided into two classes, Tree and Herbaceous, the 

 latter again divided into sub-classes. The former is a native of China, and was 

 first noticed in the year 1G56, on the return to Europe of the first embassy of 

 the Dutch East India company. The attendants of this embassy having had 

 freer access to that country than had been granted to any previous embassies, 

 visited all the country from Canton to Pekin, even the gardens of the Em- 

 peror ; and as the result of this visit, published a work describing, among other 

 things, the Pine Apple, the Tea Plant, as well as the magnificent flower of the 

 Moutan, or Tree Pseony. This volume, however, received little attention, being 

 considered only as a collection of travelers' tales. The description of the Pseony 

 therein given was very full and complete, but the plant remained unknown in 

 Europe until the late Sir Joseph Banks gave instructions to several merchants 

 trading at Canton to inquire for the Moutan, and numerous plants were im- 

 ported in the year 1794. 



It is said to have been cultivated in China for upwards of 1,400 years, and 

 some of the Chinese authors say was first discovered growing among the moun- 

 tains in northern China, whence it was brought into the southern provinces, 

 and there cultivated with the same mania as tulips have been in Europe, some 

 choice varieties of the Moutan having been sold in China for 100 ounces of 

 gold. The Tree Paony sold at high prices when it first came into the hands of 

 nurserymen at Loudon, Monsieur Noisette, a nurseryman in Paris, receiving 

 for them more than $300 each. This Moutan is the parent of all the beautiful 

 varieties of tree Paeouies now cultivated. Tree Pasonies fill up a blank between 

 deciduous flowering trees and flov/ering shrubs. In mixed borders they are 

 invaluable, as well when grown as single specimens on the lawn. They are 

 quite hardy, but slight protection greatly improves them. They tlirive in any 

 good garden soil, enriched with well-decayed manure. September and Oc- 

 tober are the months best suited for their planting. Good plants set at this 

 time produce quantities of flowers the second or third year after planting. 

 Each year the plants increase in size and beauty, and soon become the most 

 showy and attractive features of the garden. They are the first of any of the 

 varieties of pasonies to flower, and put forth their blooms early in May. 

 Being naturally of what is termed slow growth, they are not propagated by 

 division to any great extent, but chiefly by grafting upon the roots of the 

 herbaceous varieties, which is done in August. The grafts are placed in 

 frames, where they unite, and are transplanted the succeeding year into 

 nursery rows. 



To assist those who desire to form a collection, we name the following 

 choice sorts. Any description, however complete, would fail to do them jus- 

 tice, so we only give the distinguishing colors. 



Alha Variegata. — One of the most striking double varieties. The outside 

 petals are pure Avhite, and center purplish red. 



