THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



213 



effect a foreman for the area in question, having the 

 same all-inchisive general responsibility for the entire 

 maintenance and operation of the area as the division 

 foreman have over their tlivisions. 



In the case of important isolated playgrounds, tiiis 

 might be a good arrangement : but in the case of play- 

 grounds occurring as incidental features in a large park, 

 or isolated playgrounds of insufficient importance to oc- 

 cupy the entire time of an instructor, it would seem in- 

 advisable. Either method would accomplish the essential 

 purjwse of fixing upon some one person the indubitable 

 general responsibility for everything connected with each 

 piece of ground. 



Space does not permit a discussion of all the important 

 functions normally assigned to staff-departments, but I 

 must mention one essential function which' ought to be 

 performed systematically and invariably by the same 

 staff-office. It may be performed by the su]jerintendent 

 himself, or by a landscape tlepartment, or by a consult- 

 ing landscape architect without affecting the principle. 

 Every plan for changes aft'ecting the design or appearance 

 of anything for which the commission is responsible, no 

 matter where the plan originates, ought as a matter 

 of invariable routine to be referred to this one office for 

 examination and report before its adoption, and a print 

 or copy kept on file there, in order to make sure that 

 no plan shall be adopted, without deliberation, which 

 is in conflict with plans previously adopted by some 

 other department or preceding administration, and in 

 order to afford a general check upon the esthetic merits 

 and suitability of each plan in relation to the general 

 design of the park, playground or other area which it 

 will aff'ect. It should be the duty of this office to call 

 the attention of any officer of the commission to any 

 plan (originating with others) that would be likely 

 to aff'ect the interests with which that officer is specially 

 concerned, in order to get the benefit of his criticism. 

 To provide thus a central clearing-house for all im- 

 provement plans, responsible for pointing out any dis- 

 crepancies or lack of harmony among them or between 

 any one of them and the general design of any park 

 area, is the best possible means for replacing the too 

 impulsive methods from which our parks have suffered 

 by that stability of purpose which makes for the highest 

 efficiency in such work. 



Rc/'^uI'lishcJ from Landscape Jrcliitccliirc. 



THE HERBACEOUS P^ONY. 



The herbaceous preony, the "Uueen of -Spring,'" so 

 beautiful yet so simple of culture, merits more than a 

 passing thought from garden makers or lovers of flowers, 

 writes H. J. .Moore, in Tlic Canadian Florist. Its uses 

 are legion, it may be massed or grouped in borders con- 

 taining other perennials, also along the boundaries of the 

 lawn, or be arranged in beds, and even individually it may 

 be used in any suitable position, while for cutting its flow- 

 ers, single or double, are equally desirable and equally at- 

 tractive for general decorative purposes, although for 

 gracefulness the singles are to be preferred. 



\^'e are indebted tn the old-fashioned P. Officinalis and 

 to P. Albiflora for probal)ly most of our varied and beauti- 

 ful double kinds, these being obtained by hybridizing the 

 plants mentioned, thence subsequently inter-hybridizing 

 the progeny, the result being the exquisite shades of color 

 which attract and hold the attention of even the most cas- 

 ual observer. Of late years other species have been em- 

 ployed in the production of new varieties, with excellent 

 results. 



Very few plants are so free from the attacks of insect 

 pests as the paeonv ; for this reason alone, it is. therefore, 

 worthy of more general use in the amateur's garden. The 



Japanese singles afford a pleasing contrast to the ordi- 

 nary double flowered kinds, as does likewise the double 

 crimson flowered 1'. tenuifolio (P. tenuifolia flore plenoj, 

 with its rose-Iike flowers and its distinctive foliage. Eor 

 gorgeous effect the pajony is probably unrivaled, espe- 

 cially when it has been allowed to remain undisturbed for 

 many years, and where the clumps are of large size. 



^listakes in the culture of this and other plants are sure 

 to occur. The following jirecautionary measures may thus 

 obviate much disaiipointment and discouragement where 

 [Macticed. A\'ho has not heard the question. What is the 

 matter with my p;eonies, they never flower, or if at all, 

 quite indifferently? There are many reasons for this 

 state of affairs, but probably the trouble is due to one of 

 tliree causes. First, .-Vs the poeony naturally forces its 

 crowns (buds or eyes) to the surface where they mature 

 and ripen, nature should thus be respected, deep planting 

 is injuricjus. Second, The position may be too shaded; 

 partial shade may allow of the production of flowers, som- 

 bre shade never. Third, The soil may be light in nature, 

 that is sandy or gravelly, without humus, such a soil being 

 non-retentive of moisture, and, therefore, unable to retain 

 food solutions. 



A deep rich soil will suit the pteony eminently. It need 

 IK it necessarily be light in texture, nor dark in color, if 

 possessing sufficient humus, and fairly retentive of mois- 

 ture. Good drainage is essential. Never choose a soil or 

 position where this is bad unless it is possible to improve 

 it. Where such a soil does not e.xist, by incorporating 

 large quantities of humus even a heavy loam mav be made 

 productive. 



Trenching is the most effective method of preparing the 

 soil. This, however, on a large area is impracticable, re- 

 sort being made to the plough, which practice is not to be 

 commended on heavy soils unless a subsoiler is used, 

 otherwise a hard layer, known as a plough pan, will be 

 formed into which the paeony roots will penetrate only 

 with the greatest difficulty, to the detriment of vigorous 

 growth, and the production of flowers. The capillary ac- 

 tion of soil moisture will likewise be retarded. 



-\s pzeonies establish themselves slowly, and as little 

 root growth is made during the first year, the time of 

 planting is necessarily a great consideration, and while 

 opinion may be divided regarding it. the following argu- 

 ment in favor of fall planting ma_\- be taken for what it is 

 worth. Autumn is the proper time for this operation. 

 Under favorable conditions a few roots will be made ere 

 winter arrives, these enabling the plants to start early in 

 the spring, and to make considerably greater progress 

 than were they spring planted. The plants are usually 

 propagated by division, each division containing at least 

 one or more buds or eves. These should be planted at 

 least three feet ai)art, four feet being a more desirable 

 distance for the larger growing kinds such as I'estiva 

 Maxima, which. ;is its name implies, means "Large Feast." 

 Whtjn planting, do not cover with more than two inches 

 of soil, deep planting favoring the production of weakly 

 infertile stems, rather than of flowering growth. This is 

 noticeable especially in the case of many specimens plant- 

 ed in lawns. \n o])en sunny ])osition is the best, and be- 

 ing hardv no protection other than a mulch of stable 

 manure is essential to the welfare of the plants. Cultiva- 

 tion is most essential in the case of the p;eon\-. In s])ring 

 the winter's mulch should be worked into the soil to fertil- 

 ize it. and during the summer hoeing and raking should 

 be practiced even if only to conserve the moisture. Where 

 large areas are planted the cultivator should be used as 

 much as possible. 



New varieties of the p;eony are raised from seeds. As 

 four and five vears must elapse ere the plants flower satis- 

 factorilv. this work had better be left to the hybridizer. 



