PEONIES AND THEIR CULTIVATION.* 



Fig. 2136. Saisu-Gashira, Peony. 



^HE Chinese herbaceous peony 

 originated in Siberia. Its tuber- 

 ous roots were used by the Tartars 



^S'J as an article of food. 



Since Messer Schmidt in 1725 gave the 

 original single white form a botanical status, 

 it has been called by various authorities the 

 white flowering, the edible, the fragrant, 

 and now commonly the Chinese peony. 



Propagation. — There are three methods 

 by which Peonies are propagated ; by divis- 

 ion of roots (the most prevalent): by grafting 

 to rapidly increase rare sorts, and by seeds 

 to obtain new varieties. 



Division of Roots. — This is the easiest 



and most satisfactory method. The 

 roots may be lifted and divided any 

 time from the middle of August 

 until the stalks appear again in the 

 spring. 



The best time, however, is in the 

 early fall when the cut surfaces soon 

 callous over and new rootlets form 

 before the frost sets in. 



Take a larg-e stool, cut off the 

 leaves and separate into as many 

 divisions as can be made with an 

 eye to each tuber. 



In digging, care should be taken 

 that all of the tubers are dug up, 

 for if not, they may remain dormant 

 a season, and then produce a shoot, 

 giving rise to many stray plants 

 frequently found in old beds. 



Tubers divided without an eye 

 should also be planted, as they often 

 act in a similar manner, and make 

 a showing above ground in two 

 years' time. 



Grafting — This method is resort- 

 ed to in herbaceous Peonies when 

 new and rare varieties are to be 

 rapidly increased. 

 An eye of the desired sort is inserted into 

 the tuber of some strong growing variety, 

 from which all the previous eyes have been 

 remov'ed. 



This operation is generally performed in 

 August. They should be placed in frames 

 for the winter and transplanted the next year 

 into nursery rows. 



Seeds. — Propagating by seed is somewhat 

 tedious, and is only resorted to for increas- 

 ing distinct species and for obtaining new 

 varieties by hybridization. 



♦This paper on the peony, by W. A. Peterson, is 

 reprinted from Bailey's Encyclopedia of Horticul- 

 ture, an invaluable work to all students of 

 Horticulture. 



