PURCHASING 



The roots were not diseased but were small and 

 weak: in fact during the four years that they 

 had been in my garden they had not noticeably 

 increased in size. Evidently the stock had been 

 divided too often and into too small pieces, and 

 the roots had not been able to recover their 

 strength. 



2. On another purchase of fourteen roots, 

 which was made from a grower of peonies, I had 

 a most disappointing experience. As this grower 

 strongly advocated mulching with manure, I con- 

 scientiously proceeded to mulch as directed. This 

 caused two of the roots to rot away during the 

 first winter. At the end of one year only one 

 flower appeared on the remaining twelve plants. 

 At the end of two years, four plants, supposedly 

 of one variety, bloomed well, but one of the 

 four was not true to name. The other plants had 

 one flower apiece, but have refused to bloom even 

 thus luxuriantly since then. At the end of three 

 years three more plants decided to blossom in a 

 half-hearted way, and two others did creditably. 

 In other words, after four years' waiting only five 

 plants out of fourteen proved to be satisfactory. 



3. The third experience makes more cheerful 



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