DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 303 



P2EONIA. PEONY. - 



[From Pcson, an eminent physician of antiquity ] 



This interesting genus contains many magnificent flow- 

 ering plants, embracing more than one hundred varieties 

 and species, all of which are desirable for the border, and 

 perfectly hardy, standing over winter without protection. 

 Most of the genus are herbaceous. P. Moutan, and its va- 

 rieties, are shrubby ; their roots are fleshy, but not so 

 distinctly tuberous as those of the herbaceous species. 

 All require nearly the same treatment. The time for di- 

 viding the herbaceous sorts is in September or October ; 

 the whole stool should be taken up. With a sharp knife 

 it may be divided into as many pieces as there are tubers 

 with buds ; it is necessary that a bud be preserved on 

 each tuber. At tins season of the year the Peony is in a 

 dormant state ; the buds are just beginning to show them- 

 selves, and, if delayed long after the first of October, the 

 new fibres begin to push, and the plant will be less likely 

 to flower the coming spring. The Peony should not be 

 disturbed in the spring, unless it be very early, as it does 

 not succeed well when transplanted at that season, without 

 a ball of earth adhering to the roots. The tubers should 

 be planted in a deep, rich, light, garden soil ; the crown, 

 or bud, should be placed three inches below the surface. 

 The species of the Peony have been so much changed by 

 the florist, that it is difficult to draw the line of botanical 

 distinction with any degree of accuracy ; and, for floral 

 purposes, it is not necessary. 



P&6nia officinalis. This is the old Double Crimson 

 Peony, familiar to every one as a household friend. 

 When first introduced into Antwerp, two hundred and 

 fifty years ago, the plant sold for twelve crowns, a large 

 sum for those days. 



The varieties of this species are P. rosa, with rose ; P. 

 blanda, with blush; P. rubra, with red; P. carneus, 



