464 ANNUAL REPORT 



Chinese varieties. I find them all entirely hardy. By having a 

 dozen or more varieties one can have them in bloom from early 

 May until after the Fourth of July, by having a list selected, to 

 include early, medium and late. 



Earliest of all is a variety called Smitzii; single, dark crimson 

 flower; foliage resembling Pae. tennifoUa Next in order comes 

 the Old Double Eed Toe Peony, that many of us remember 

 from childhood. I find they require a trifle more care than the 

 Chinese varieties, but when once well established, prove hardy 

 as need be. When I first attempted to grow them here I lost a 

 number of fall set plants, while now I save all, by putting a 

 mulch of two or three inches of leaves over them, with a few 

 handfuls of soil scattered over to keep the leaves in place; then 

 I lay down a couple of sticks of fire-wood, one on each side of 

 plant, and on these lay boards to keep the rain off during the 

 fall and spring. About the first of May I remove boards and 

 draw back the leaves. I am sure one will soon feel rewarded 

 for the trouble. I have never lost a plant when treated in this 

 way. 



Nest in order I have a couple of single varieties, very showy, 

 bright red, yellow centres, that blossom one after the other. 

 Then comes Double White, very free, full, double and showy; 

 should be in every collection. Fragrant White; not so large a 

 flower, pure white, pink centre and exceedingly fragrant. Then 

 we have pink peonies, immense in size, showy and free, but can't 

 gives names of them. Perfection; a delicate, showy variety, 

 pink and white; fragrant. Fragrans, a bright red variety, 

 growing three and a half feet tall, double, showy and fragrant; 

 should be in every collection. However small, after peonies are 

 well established I seldom take the trouble to cover them in win- 

 ter, unless the soil needs enriching. 



In preparing the ground I find the old saying applies, that 

 anything worth doing is worth doing well. I find this espec- 

 ially so with perennial flowers, for when once started they last 

 many years. I prefer to prepare the ground before setting the 

 plants, by adding for each plant one pail full of wood ashes, 

 about a bushel of chip manure, also the same of stable manure ; 

 the whole thoroughly mixed with the soil by spading deeply, 

 over and over. The bed should be raised a trifle higher than 

 the surrounding ground that water may not stand and freeze 

 over the plants, as many plants are lost from this cause. If 

 there is any trouble from ants sapping the juice from peony 



