220 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



ever the frost is out of the ground, but, 

 when convenient, it is desirable to 

 plant in the early fall. At or near the 

 top of the root will be seen protruding, 

 dormant eyes or buds of a fleshy na- 

 ture. In planting, the root should be 

 set so that these eyes are about three 

 inches beneath the surface of the soil. 

 If the plants are to remain undisturbed 

 for a long term of years, the roots 

 should be placed three and one-half 

 feet apart. A light mulching of ma- 

 nure may be placed on the surface for 

 the winter, but this is not necessary 

 or even desirable if the ground has 

 been made quite rich. In any event, 

 it is not well to smother the peony 

 during winter, as it is a cold-loving 

 plant, and freezing of root is more 

 beneficial than otherwise. 



In spring, soon after the frost is out, 

 the mulching, if any has been given, 

 should be raked aside, and soon there- 

 after will be seen the strong, reddish- 

 green shoots bursting forth from the 

 ground, and which grow with surpris- 

 ing rapidity. All that is necessary 

 from this time until the flowers bloom 

 is to keep the surface of the ground 

 mellow with a hoe, without going deep 

 enough to disturb or injure the root, 

 also give copious supply of water if 

 rains are infrequent. An occasional 

 application of manure water during the 

 month of May or the period of rapid 

 growth, which corresponds to this time 



here, will tend to develop extremely 

 large flowers. 



Each strong shoot will usually pro- 

 duce three or four buds, but, with the 

 exception of the largest central one, 

 these should be pinched off where qual- 

 ity and not quantity is desired. After 

 blooming, the only care required will 

 be to see that the ground is kept free 

 of weeds, and in October, when the 

 foliage turns yellow, it may be cut of! 

 and removed, and the root beneath the 

 surface is then in the same condition 

 as when first planted, except that it 

 has doubled in size. 



While the peony, because of its hardi- 

 ness, freedom of disease and insect 

 pests, is especially the flower for "the 

 people," it is also one of the most use- 

 ful of all-around flowers on estates of 

 the rich. There it may be employed in 

 large mass beds, and so will give a 

 color effect perhaps superior to any- 

 thing else which can be used. For 

 bordering long walks and drives, it is 

 also specially effective. As a cut 

 flower it has scarcely a rival, and is 

 now used very largely in bold decora- 

 tions. For this purpose, the flower 

 should be cut just as the bud begins to 

 expand, and in this condition it may 

 be kept for a week or more, if placed in 

 water in a cool, dark cellar. It will 

 then open up much larger and finer 

 than if left on the plant. 



For foliage effect the peony is also 



MARIE JACQUIN. 



