CHAPTER II 



THE MYTHOLOGY, AND ANCIENT AND MODERN 

 HISTORY OF THE PEONY 



THE peony has been such a familiar flower 

 in himible gardens in this country that 

 many persons are not aware of its aristocratic 

 and extended genealogy. The descent of the 

 peony can be traced through numerous periods 

 of history even into mythology ; indeed in Greece, 

 the Roman Empire, China, Japan, France, Eng- 

 land and America, its relation to mankind has 

 been considerable. 



In medicine, art, commerce and science, the 

 peony has played a part which not only entitles 

 it to general recognition, but which is also ab- 

 sorbing in detail. At different times in the past, 

 it has been the object of many journeys and voy- 

 ages, the subject of years of painstaking study, 

 and to its improvement men have lovingly de- 

 voted a large portion of their lives. From Leto, 

 mother of Apollo, who appears to have been the 

 original " introducer " of the peony, down to M. 

 Dessert, the great French grower, who in 1915 



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