CHAPTER X 



TREE PEONIES: CULTIVATION, PROPAGATION 

 AND BEST VARIETIES 



Location and Soil 



IN growing tree peonies, location and soil are 

 important. The tree peony should always be 

 planted at a distance from trees or shrubs and 

 sheltered from the north and east winds. A 

 friable and rich vegetable garden soil, similar to 

 that which should be provided for herbaceous 

 peonies, is best. If the ground is poor it should 

 be made fertile by the addition of well-rotted 

 manure or compost. The suggestions given for 

 herbaceous peonies in Chapter VI under the head- 

 ing, " How to Prepare the Soil," apply with 

 equal force to P. moutan. Observant gardeners 

 have noticed that soils in which there is consider- 

 able iron are particularly suited to growing tree 

 peonies. Where the iron is deficient, the applica- 

 tion of a small quantity — preferably in the form 

 of the sulphate — is of value in producing, vigour 

 in the plant and depth of colour in the blooms. 



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