THE BOOK OF 

 THE PEONY 



CHAPTER I 



AN APPRECIATION OF THE PEONY' 



" Full of set flowers, 

 Full is my chamber; 

 Thou art most stately, 

 White peony." 



— Hakku. 



THE peony of to-day — too little known and 

 too seldom sung — the brilliant result of years 

 of steadfast devotion and untiring effort on the 

 part of peony lovers and hybridisers, is the most 

 superb and commanding flower which the garden 

 holds. The iris, Oriental poppy, fox-glove, holly- 

 hock, lily, dahlia and chrysanthemum each has its 

 own special radiance, yet each is surpassed by 

 the peony with its magnificence of mass and per- 



^ I have adopted the spelling generally used in this 

 country and approved by the Century Dictionary. In 

 England " pseony " is the customary spelling. The 

 botanical name is Pasonia. 



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