PLANTING AND CULTIVATION 



This prevents forcing the stake into the ground 

 at a point where it may injure the peony. The 

 plant should then be covered with fine soil, pressed 

 down with the hands : tramping is too rough treat- 

 ment for these roots. After the ground is firmed, 

 I usually draw a circle around each plant in the 

 soft dirt. This serves as a reminder of its exact 

 position and warns one against treading upon 

 that root in the pre-occupation of planting others. 



Record of Planting 



Labels, even in the most carefully kept garden, 

 easily become misplaced or blurred : a clearly pre- 

 pared diagram is the only infallible method of 

 which I have ever heard for keeping track of 

 the roots. In addition to any " orientation " based 

 on trees and fences, which may be moved or de- 

 stroyed, a point of the compass should be in- 

 dicated. After the planting is done the diagram, 

 with date, names and condition of roots, and name 

 of dealer from whom they were bought, should be 

 copied into a permanent garden-book. 



Without such a plan, should the labels be 

 lost and the names forgotten, the peonies will 

 grow just as lustily and flower just as freely as 



157 



