THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



LAYERING 



A number of other methods have been used 

 for propagating tree peonies. Of these, layering 

 is perhaps the simplest. Year-old shoots of a 

 strong, healthy plant are firmly pegged down in 

 the Autumn. The first year after pegging, roots 

 are thrown out from each bud, and the second 

 year the new little plants are removed from the 

 parent tree. 



DIVISION 



Division of the roots to increase any especially 

 desirable kinds has also been employed. This is 

 done during the Autumn, at the usual planting 

 time. In dividing the roots care is taken that 

 each division retains some fibrous rootlets. I do 

 not know to just what extent this method is prac- 

 tised. It would seem to have the serious draw- 

 back of destroying a well-established plant and 

 taking great risks with the success of the divisions. 

 Grafting upon herbaceous roots has proved to be 

 the most practical and successful method of in- 

 creasing the stock of existing varieties. 



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