THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



other cut flowers, the ends of the stems should be 

 snipped and the water changed eveiy day. 



In cutting peonies, I always leave plenty of 

 foliage on each plant, so that it will have enough 

 leaves to sustain continued growth. The flower 

 stalk should never be cut to the ground. Some 

 stem and two or three leaves should always be 

 left. Otherwise the root buds will be small and 

 poor the following year. 



Artificial Shade 

 If one wishes the peonies of pale and delicate 

 colours to remain on the plants, an overhead 

 screen will protect the blooms from the bleaching 

 effects of the sun. When the plants are in beds 

 or groups a movable cover can be used in the fol- 

 lowing way. A strip of cheese-cloth is arranged 

 with little rings sewed at short intervals along each 

 side. Through these rings ai^e passed strong 

 wires which, when pulled tight, are firmly fast- 

 ened to stakes at each end of the planting. While 

 the sun is strong, the cheese-cloth is left in place 

 over the peonies. At night or on rainy days it 

 is pushed to one end of the bed and tied out of 

 the way. 



168 



