THE TREE PEONY 



the roots will not heave as a result of frost. Each 

 Autumn, in order to prevent the breaking of the 

 branches by heavy snows and to help protect the 

 trees from the unscrupulous appetites of hungry 

 rabbits, I tie up my tree peonies with straw in a 

 manner similar to that in which roses are gen- 

 erally prepared for Winter. After the first warm 

 days of Spring have brought life into the buds of 

 P. moutan, late frosts often do much damage. 

 For this reason I never remove the straw in early 

 Spring. The binding strings are cut and the straw 

 is loosely woven through the branches or drawn 

 up tent-wise and tied to a tall stake so as to keep 

 off the cold sweeping winds of April and the 

 sudden still frosts. If by any mischance the 

 buds should be nipped, they should be shaded 

 from the sun at once and allowed to thaw grad- 

 ually. Such a misfortune has never occurred in 

 my own garden : the use of the loose straw in the 

 branches has always proved effective. Contrary 

 to expectation, the straw covering does not hasten 

 the Spring growth of the peonies, and so does no 

 harm. A small frame covered with miuslin or 

 canvas has been suggested as another simple and 

 practical method of protection from late frosts. 



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