THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



often develop buds and form a crown of its own. 

 The chance of the lower part of a root finger 

 making any growth is very small. 



After the roots are cut up the divisions should 

 be planted at once ; ^ but, if possible, not in the 

 same soil in which peonies have already been 

 grown. Emphasis should be laid upon this point. 

 Such planting is often, although not invariably, 

 the cause of failure and disappointment. As 

 peonies require much nourishment, they exhaust 

 to an unusual degree the soil in which they grow. 

 If placed in exhausted soil, the new root, suffer- 

 ing from the shock of division and transplant- 

 ing, is at a great disadvantage : many so planted 

 have failed ever to bloom. 



A peony should not be planted in ground 

 that has been previously occupied by one that 

 was diseased. 



If it is necessary for the sake of garden design 

 or effect to place a peony where one was growing 



* One prominent grower has recently tried the 

 method of placing the newly divided roots, lightly cov- 

 ered with paper, in a cool, dark place for a day or two 

 and letting the cuts become somewhat callous before 

 replanting. His object in doing this is to lessen the 

 possible danger of rotting. 



178 



