TREE PEONIES AND THEIR CULTURE, 



3" 



Tree Peony, Kimomanotzuki — Moon=l'eeping= 

 Out-oMhe=Clouds. 



Typical of the single Japanese varieties. Rich glowing purple 

 petals ; bright yellow antlers. 



from the most delicate satiny white through 

 shades of pink, rose and crimson to the 

 deepest purple. 



The Japanese names are most fanciful 

 and poetic. When preserved, as they 

 should be. they add much to the charm of 

 the flower. The finest white I have, a 

 semi-double, rejoices in a name which 

 translated is said to mean " Snow-storm." 

 One bloom of this plant was by actual 

 measurement 1134 inches in diameter. Its 

 size and the indescribable sheen and beauty 

 of its petals contrasting admirably with the 

 golden stamens combined to render it the 

 finest flower without exception that I ever 

 saw. A deep purple single flower variety 

 is , called " Moon Peeping Out of the 

 Clouds." Other examples of Japanese 

 names are : " White Lion in a Fury," 

 " The Seven Gods of Happiness," " Snow 

 Clad Fuji." 



Any soil suits the tree peony, but of 

 course it responds to generous treatment. 

 The roots are very long and the plant is a 



gross feeder. The soil should, therefore, 

 be deep and rich, and kept enriched by top 

 dressings dug into the soil from time to 

 time. It loves water, and copious drench- 

 ings before and during the flowering sea- 

 son will be amply repaid by increased size 

 and substance in the flowers. 



The only pruning necessary is to cut off 

 the dead blooms and give shape to varieties 

 inclined to be straggling. With ample 

 room, however, the tree peony is naturally 

 a symmetrical plant and requires but slight 

 trimming. As the flowers are formed 

 from the buds produced in the preceding 

 year, the little pruning necessary should be 

 done as soon as the blossoms fall. To 

 prune in early spring will prevent any bloom 

 during that season, and to prune late means 

 simply the removal of the flowering buds. 

 Propagation is usually effected by grafting 

 in the spring on the roots of the herbaceous 

 peony. They may also be propagated by 

 division, though this is not advisable, as the 

 plants dislike being disturbed, and by layer- 

 ing, which is comparatively easy. Regard 

 must be had in putting down layers to the 

 brittle nature of the wood, and great care 

 is consequently necessary in bending down 

 the shoot intended to produce a new plant. 

 The season of blooming is coincident with 

 the old-fashioned peony, P. officinalisis, and 

 precedes by nearly two weeks the not less 

 gorgeous P. sinensis, which are the pride 

 of our gardens in early June. 



The tree peony may be as easily grown in 

 Canada and Eastern Ontario as the herba- 

 ceous varieties. It is equally hardy if 

 given close and dry protection. It may be 

 had cheaply, and in almost infinite variety. 

 It is magnificent in foliage and flower, yet 

 it is unknown except in a few gardens. In 

 the hope that it may be more widely grown 

 and add to the delights that flower lovers 

 alone know. I have ventured to bring it 

 specially to the notice of the Ottawa Horti- 

 cultural Society. 



