o2 THE FLO III ST. 



ceed the above. Some years since a large collection of varieties or 

 species \vas sent out by the Horticultural Society ; Mr. Sabine, at 

 that time an officer of the Society, took much interest in their cul- 

 ture : some of these are interesting, but merely as early bloomers, for 

 they are too much alike in their flowers to be worth keeping dis- 

 tinct. They all bear seed freely; and many varieties, with slight 

 distinctions in colour, may be originated with but little trouble among 

 these single purple Peonies. The following are perhaps equal to 

 any ; they bloom immediately after P. tenuifolia : Andersoni, Baxteri, 

 compacta, decora, foliosa, pubescens, splendens, Russi. There are 

 many others in catalogues ; but a bed of seedlings will sui)ply varie- 

 ties without end, quite equal in quality ; the difficulty will be to find 

 names. 



Peeonia lobata is a very distinct and pretty early-blooming species, 

 with pale carmine Howers. 



P. paradoxa fimbriata, with double flowers, is also distinct and 

 pretty ; very dwarf in its habit, and one of the first double Peonies 

 that blooms ; then follow the common double Peonies, varieties of 

 Pa^onia officinalis. 



P. officinalis albicans, the double blush Peony, with large double 

 pale blush flowers fading to white. 



P. officinalis rosea, the double rose Peony, with large double 

 rose-coloured flowers fading to blush. 



P. officinalis rubra, the well-known double crimson Peony, than 

 which no flower in cultivation is more gorgeous. P. officinalis car- 

 nescens proves here identical with P. officinalis rosea. 



P. officinalis anemoniflora is, as compared with the above, a new 

 variety from the continent, and really very beautiful ; its stamens 

 form themselves into narrow riband-like petals edged with gold. 



P, peregrina anemoniflora is equally beautiful, but diflers a little 

 from the foregoing ; they are well named, for they remind one by 

 their filament-like inner petals of large double Anemones. 



Thus far I have noticed in succession a few of the most desirable 

 of our early-flowering Peonies. No sooner have the double Peonies 

 commenced fading, than our more modern Chinese Peonies (Piconia 

 albiflora) begin to unfold their charming flowers of the most varied 

 hues, from crimson to almost yellow\ These differ from all the above, 

 not only in their flowers, but in the colour of their leaves, which 

 are of deep glossy green tinged with purple. The earliest bloom- 

 ing species of this Peony are : P. albiflora siberica and P. albiflora 

 vestalis, with single flowers of the purest white ; P. albiflora tatarica, 

 with single rose-coloured flowers ; then follow P. albiflora Whitleii, 

 with large double white flowers ; P. albiflora lleevesi, with pale rose- 

 coloured flowers, large and double ; P. albiflora fragrans, with large 

 double flowers of a deep rose, and slightly rose-scented ; P. albiflora 

 Humeii, also with large rose-coloured flowers ; P. albiflora Pottsii, a 

 distinct and beautiful variety, with large double flowers of deep crim- 

 son ; P. albiflora grandiflora carnea plena, a variety from France, with 

 immense flower-cups, of a delicate flesh-colour. P. albiflora grandi- 

 flora nivea plena, flowers of equal size to the foregoing of pure white. 



