PEONY. 73 



The Whitc-ilowcrcd Peony, alhijloraj has also 

 an agreeable fragrance, like that of the Narcissus. 

 This species is a native of Siberia, and is well 

 known to the Daurians and Mongols, who boil the 

 root in their soup, and grind the seeds to put into 

 their tea ; these people call it Dochina, and the 

 Russians, Marjui horcn hjelye : this species was 

 first introduced in 1784. 



The common Peony of the garden will grow in 

 almost any soil and situation, and will thrive under 

 the shades of trees, which renders it a most valuable 

 plant for ornamental shrubberies; and it is ob- 

 served that the duration of the flowers is consider- 

 ably longer when thus shaded than when exposed to 

 the full meridian sun : we therefore recommend 

 them to be planted in situations open to the east, 

 but sheltered by trees or shrubs from the south and 

 western sun. These plants should not be often 

 removed, as it injures their flowering; but when it 

 becomes necessary to transplant or divide the roots, 

 it should be done about the end of August or the 

 beginning of September : for if they are removed 

 after their roots have shot out new fibres, it checks 

 the plant, and prevents its giving fine flowers for the 

 succeeding summer. The double varieties are in- 

 creased by parting the roots, observing to preserve a 

 bud upon the crown of each offset, or they will come 

 to nothing ; and the roots should not be separated 

 VOL. ir. E 



