PLANTING AND CULTIVATION 



tive effect of their clusters, are not usually dis- 

 budded. 



Another method of obtaining large flowers 

 is to pinch off several of the weaker shoots in 

 the Spring soon after they appear above ground. 

 The growth which would have gone into these 

 shoots is thus diverted into the ones that are left, 

 which will attain greater size and vigour. 



Fertilisers 



Until Dr. Bose's wonderful invention, the 

 crescograph, which determines in a quarter of an 

 hour the exact action of fertiliser applied to 

 plants, is readily available, I suppose we shall 

 have to be content with somewhat haphazard con- 

 clusions on the effect of adding food to the soil. 



If especially large blooms are desired, I find 

 it well worth while to apply chemical fertilisers in 

 addition to manure. While manure is the most 

 valuable single fertiliser on account of its stimu- 

 lating the bacteria in the soil, and can, in the 

 form of weak manure water, be used safely in 

 the cultivation of peonies, it needs to be balanced 

 by the addition of phosphoric acid and potash. 

 Without such balancing, the excess of nitrogen 



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