PREFACE. 



To the Members of the American Peony Society and the 

 Peony-Loving Public : 



Speaking for the Committee on Nomenclature of the Ameri- 

 can Peony Society and the Cornell Experiment Station, I wish 

 to bear testimony to the difficult character of the task under- 

 taken by Mr. Coit involved in the attempt to grapple with 

 the much-confused problem of peony nomenclature. The ac- 

 companying check-list is the first step in the progress of this 

 great work — the magnitude of which can only be appreciated 

 by intimate acquaintance with the mass of detail and the amount 

 of literature to be examined. However, a beginning has been 

 made. The Committee on Nomenclature was fortunate in be- 

 ing able to cooperate with the Experiment Station, and the 

 Experiment Station was fortunate in finding a man willing and 

 equipped for the work. A large collection of peonies has been 

 gathered — and here again we must recognize the liberality of 

 .the donors, — set in systematic order for examination and will 

 afford in the near future we trust an unparalleled opportunity 

 for study. I hope that originators and introducers of peonies 

 will aid the work by forwarding specimen plants as opportunity 

 affords. This check list is neither complete nor perfect. It is 

 sent out for the twofold purpose of giving a fairly comprehen- 

 sive and accurate presentation of references to peony names 

 and pictures, and making some attempt at a standardized method 

 of spelling. Mr. Coit and those associated will welcome criti- 

 cism and suggestions. Either will manifest interest in the 

 enterprise, and this is vital. 



Yours faithfully, 



John Craig. 



Committee on Nomenclature : 



John Craig, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., Chairman. 



C. J. Maloy, (Ellwanger & Barry), Rochester, N. Y. 



John A. Charlton, Rochester, N. Y. 



J. F. Rosenfield, West Point, Neb. 



A. H. Fewkes, Secretary American Peony Society, Newton 

 Highlands, Mass. 



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