THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



my rule to come as near thi'ee inches as is hmnanly 

 possible. 



Too deep planting sometimes causes " blind " 

 growth — that is, the stalks and leaves appear and 

 grow but produce no flower. Too shallow plant- 

 ing makes greater the possibility of the root being 

 displaced by frost during the winter or early 

 spring. If the root of a peony is on, or too near, 

 the surface, it will rot away in a year or two. 

 Inasmuch as peonies are both expensive and valu- 

 able, and inasmuch as the care and labour of 

 planting are considerable, it pays well to see that 

 the work is properly done the first time they are 

 planted. 



Some of the large peony roots come with a 

 hollow directly under the crown. In planting, 

 this space should be conscientiously filled with 

 soil without pressure on the roots, which are not 

 only brittle in themselves, but are in such a posi- 

 tion that the slightest pressure will cause a break. 



As each plant is put in its appointed place — 

 and not before — the nursery label should be re- 

 moved and attached to a garden stake. Before 

 soil is placed over the plant the garden stake 

 should be carefully inserted between the roots. 



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