THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



early red — are two of his best products. With 

 his grandson, Auguste Dessert, Mechin put out 

 a number of new sorts among which were Adolphe 

 Rousseau (1890) and Suzanne Dessert (1890). 

 Mechin was succeeded by Dessert who has added 

 many noteworthy varieties and is still actively en- 

 gaged in this work at Chanonceaux. Dessert is 

 considered one of the greatest living experts on 

 peonies. He has produced Madame D. Treyeran 

 (1889), Marcelle Dessert (1899), Monsieur 

 Martin Cahuzac (1899), Germaine Bigot 

 (1902), Aurore (1904). The Mechin-Dessert 

 group is one of the most important in the history 

 of the peony in France. 



Within the past twenty years, Victor Lemoine 

 of Nancy, who occupies the old establishment of 

 Crousse,*^ has become one of the world's greatest 



^ Tabulation showing successive owners of noted 

 French collections of peonies : 



1. Etienne Mechin (1815-1895) 



collection started 1840 

 Dessert and Mechin, 1882-1893 

 Auguste Dessert, 1888- 



now extant at Chanonceaux. 



2. Comte de Cussy 

 Calot, 1850-1872 



54 



