VARIETIES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS 



clature." ^ Much is to be said in favour of each 

 chart. However, as there are many garden 

 owners who do not possess either, or do not feel 

 the need of one, I have not employed the cryptic 

 colour terms used in both. 



It is to be noted that the colours of all peonies 

 vary somewhat in accordance with the age and 

 strength of the plants and the constituents of the 

 soil. There may be an intensification of colours 

 in different years due to the vagaries of the 

 weather. This year, 1916, Avalanche had such 

 a strong tinge of yellow throughout as to appear 

 almost another flower. Allowance should also be 

 made for the fact that peonies fade in strong 

 sunlight. 



Size and Season 



Size is also a comparative matter. The actual 

 dimensions in inches vary in each case with the 

 degree of cultivation. The descriptions, " very 

 large," " large," " medium " and " small," which 

 I have used in column 6, refer to the size of the 

 peony in question compared to other varieties of 

 peonies grown under the same conditions. 



The different varieties of albiflora have a 



^ Published by Mr. Ridgeway, Washington, D. C, 1912. 



79 



