THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



reading. From another grower of peonies, I se- 

 cured a shipment of exceptionally fine roots. The 

 first year after planting seventy-five per cent, of 

 these bloomed: some of the plants bore six or 

 eight flowers. The second year all except one 

 bloomed freely and had sturdy flowers and strong 

 lustrous foliage. The prices for these roots were 

 higher than those of certain other growers and 

 nurserymen, but the results warranted the added 

 expense. I have just come in from the garden 

 this warm May morning after having counted 

 with a miser's thrills of joy the many large, vigor- 

 ous buds on plants furnished only last year by the 

 same man. May he live long and prosper! 



The newest and scarcest peonies command a 

 fancy price. The wise beginner will leave the buy- 

 ing of these varieties until he has had either ample 

 experience or specific expert advice. Some of 

 them are wonderfully beautiful and desirable, 

 and others are expensive because there are only 

 a small number on the market, not necessarily 

 because they are greatly superior to the well- 

 known kinds which should be in every peony 

 garden. 



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