6 INTRODUCTION 



many plots in the Cornell Experiment (which indicates that 

 they are today offered for sale by many nurserymen) may 

 usually be accepted as successful and valuable varieties. 



To examine all current trade-catalogs has been impos- 

 sible, therefore as fair a representation of them as practicable 

 was selected, and an effort was made to secure catalogs from 

 all those who made a specialty of peonies. 



We wish to acknowledge the valuable work of Mr. A. H. 

 Fewkes, the secretary of the American Peony Society, who 

 compiled the references to Kelway's early catalogs and se- 

 cured the original Japanese names of many varieties which have 

 been obtained from Japan. Each one of his references has been 

 credited to him thus: "Fewkes' MSS." Mr. A. Dessert ol 

 Chenonceaux, 1 ; rance, has also compiled much valuable informa- 

 tion as to early European varieties, and his list has for the 

 past year or two circulated in typewritten form among the 

 members of the American Peony Society serving as a check-list 

 or guide. Many errors, due to copying, have crept into this 

 list, yet it has been the most reliable list available up to the 

 present time. I Aery entry in Mr. Desserts' list has been in- 

 corporated into this check-list and credit given to Mr. Dessert 

 thus: "Dessert's MSS." These two are the only manuscripts 

 which have been used in compiling this check-list. 



It was decided to have only one" alphabetical scheme and to 

 combine in it all varieties of herbaceous and tree peonies (mou- 

 tans). References to the type species are treated as though the 

 specific name was a varietal name as far as alphabetical posi- 

 tion is concerned. 



This check-list is horticultural in its nature rather than 

 botanical. It differs from a botanical check-list in several 

 points. It is arranged alphabetically ; the credit for a given 

 variety is given to the originator (when known) instead of to 

 the first deseriber as in botanical usage; few references to 

 monographs or strictly botanical works are cited under the 

 name of the species, such being reserved for a later descriptive 

 publication. 



