Febraary 13, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDKNER. 



133 



HEBBACEOUS P.EONIES. 



ISTINCT and beautiful are P.eonies for the 

 decoration of borders and shrubberies, where 

 their large and variously-coloured blooms 

 have an extremely ornamental appearance 

 diirinf? the summer months. No other class 

 of herbaceous plants can vie with them for 

 rich and gorgeous effect during May and 

 June. They are admirably adapted for the 

 fi'ont of shi-ubberies, and are equally in place 

 in flower borders — in fact, no garden can 

 he considered complete without its herbaceous Pieonies. 

 Being of free growth, they are equally at home in the 

 open parts of woodland scenes ; no flowers that I know 

 are so effective in the midst of otherwise monotonous 

 green. Not that these plants will grow anywhere, but in 

 many spots now devoid of colour a few PiBonies dotted 

 about in available spots would lend a charm to our wood- 

 land scenes these do not at present possess. The avail.able 

 spots are those which are ojien, and free from the drip 

 and shade of trees — in fact, these plants should have a 

 Biinny position, but will thrive well if not in the dense 

 gloom of overhanging trees, for they must have light. 

 As regards soil they are not particular, only they will 

 not grow in a bog, and if water do not lodge they will 

 grow either in the strongest or the hghtest kind of soil. 

 In a sod that grows the Foxglove and Harebell there 

 they will luxuriate, dehghting in the vegetable matter to 

 be found in most of our woodlands abounding in suitable 

 places to plant them in ; and then 



" There might ye see the Pa?ony spread wide." — Cowper. 

 Attractive as the Pseony flower is, it is often found 

 better, and generally quite as well, represented in our 

 cottage gardens as in those of gi'eater pretensions. This 

 is rather to be wondered at, as the race for a number of 

 years, and until recently, has been all for those plants 

 affording gorgeous brilliant display ; and how the PiBony 

 came to be overlooked is a matter of surprise, possessing, 

 as it does, a dignity which forbids a rival amongst Nature's 

 gayest ornaments in the early summer months. It is 

 one of the most attractive and gorgeous of herbaceous 

 plants, and, it must be added, one of the most neglected. 

 The Pa.'onj% in the emblematic language of flowers, is 

 given as the representative of bashful shame. Is it shame 

 that causes our placing this gorgeous noble plant in shrub- 

 beries and out-of-the-way corners to blush and bloom 

 uncared for and unseen ? Shame we should so treat a 

 subject with which no other can compare for effect in its 

 season of bloom. In our rustic gardens it may be seen 

 unfolding in the bright clear sunbeams its be.iuties of 

 the purest white, deepening to blush, rose, and up to the 

 glowing, intense, and brilliant crimson. In brilliancy of 

 colom', in largeness of bloom, combined with a form 

 that, for globularity, with substance of petal, it cannot 

 fail to please the most fastidious of florists. What ? the 

 PfBouy a florists' flower ! Why not ? Why should not 

 the Boyal Horticultural Society include it in its May or 

 June Shows, or both, gixnng a prize worth competing for 



No. 621).— Vol. XXIV., New Series. 



to be awarded to the best twelve Anemone-flowered, and 

 another to the best twelve globular-flowered Pa^onies'? 

 Are they not worth it ? 



As before remarked. Peonies are at home almost every- 

 where, but they do best in a rich, light, loamy soil free of 

 stagnant water, and delight in a good depth of soil full 

 of fibre or decaying vegetable matter : hence leaf soil or 

 well-decayed manure should be liberally, deeply, and well 

 mixed with the soil before planting, and top-dres.sings of 

 one or both given every autumn. Being of large growth, 

 the plants should be allowed plenty of room ; 4 feet apart 

 should be the minimum distance, and between them in 

 summer may be planted Dahhas. We may thus have 

 early in summer and again late in the year flowers of 

 the two most gorgeous of herbaceous plants. The situa- 

 tion should be open, but it is desirable it should be shel- 

 tered from the north. Liquid manure may be given 

 after they " button," and if the weather be dry, liberal 

 supplies of it and water should be given, as the Pseony, 

 being of the Crowfoot (Ranunculacese) order, it is im- 

 patient of drought. If the weather be wet, the flowers, 

 if for exhibition, should be protected by an awning of 

 canvas stretched tightly on a lathwood frame having a 

 sharp pitch or incline. Slugs are sometimes trouble- 

 some ; these must be kept under by dusting about and 

 over the crown with quicklime in the evening or early IQ 

 the morning. 



In planting in shrubberies a good hole should be made, 

 and the sod well enriched with leaf soil, manure, pieces 

 of turf, or vegetable refuse of any kind. Mix these well 

 with the soil, and raise the latter in the form of a mound 

 rather than of a hole, only filled so partially that it sinks 

 into a hollow. Plant in autumn, or spring before growth 

 takes place, and only just cover the buds — not more than 

 2 or 3 inches. Mulch over the spot with partially-decayed 

 leaves, short litter, or lawn mowings, and keep the grass 

 and weeds under, so that they do not overtop the plant in 

 summer, mulching round them in summer with an inch 

 thick of lawn mowings, and putting on a fresh mulching 

 two or three times in the course of a season ; they will 

 soon become fine clumps. 



Propagation is effected by division whilst the plants 

 are at rest. It is, however, perhaps, best done in spring 

 just before they begin to grow, taking off eveiy bud 

 with a portion of root, and planting it in rich hght 

 soil. 



As far as I know, only one species of the Pa?ony is 

 claimed by England — viz., P. corallina. What we for 

 the rnost part cultivate, and amongst which we have 

 the finest varieties, are the P. albiflora fi'om Siberia or 

 Northern China, P. oflicin.ilis of Switzerland and the Alps, 

 P. paradoxa of the Levant, and P. tenuifoha of Siberian 

 origin. From them have been raised the following and 

 other varieties, which may be classed as the Anemone- 

 flowered and the Globular. 



ANEMONE-FLOWERED. 



Anemonceflora carneo-tincfu,. — Guard petals rose, fea- 

 thered in the centre with bright rose : centre petals bright 

 blush, tipped with white. Very sweet-scented. 



No. 1272.— Vol. XLIX , Old Series. 



