THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



stantial reasons. Earlier than September 15th, 

 moving checks the development of the umnatured 

 root buds which hold the leaves and flowers for 

 the following year. But by the middle of Sep- 

 tember the root buds are usually fully formed 

 and will not be injured by lifting. Planting in 

 the early Autumn gives another advantage. If 

 the soil has ample chance before frost to settle 

 around the newly planted roots, they are less 

 likely to " heave " during the winter. 



Peonies can, of course, be put in the ground 

 at any time until the gi'ound is frozen; but the 

 later the planting is done the poorer will be the 

 growth made the following season. Spring plant- 

 ing is most inexpedient and usually means no 

 flowers until the next year. Peonies start to 

 grow the first warm days in the spring. If trans- 

 planted then it is almost impossible to avoid dam- 

 aging the little white feeding rootlets at a time 

 when they should be left untouched to give the 

 plant the greatest amount of nourishment needed 

 to prepare it for the blooming season so near at 

 hand. 



Iris is affected by transplanting the least of 

 any perennial that I have ever grown. Peonies 



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