CHAPTER VIII 



PROPAGATION 



HERBACEOUS peonies are usually prop- 

 agated in two ways: 1, by the division of 

 roots, which method increases the number of 

 plants of established varieties, and 2, by growing 

 from seeds, which method, as the offspring never 

 come true to either parent, produces new varieties. 



Division 

 Professional growers select stock one, two or 

 three years old for dividing. Two-year-old stock 

 is best. The use of young roots for division not 

 only saves time in increasing stock, but also pro- 

 duces plants which flower more freely. Roots 

 older than two years may also be successfully 

 divided and grown: it is indeed such roots which 

 ordinarily are divided in private gardens. As the 

 amateur grower desires to have blooms he leaves 

 his peonies undisturbed to flower. However, if 

 they are left too many years before they are 

 divided, the new stock thus secured may be dis- 



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