i888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



261 



Ti'i.ips AND Sthawi!kui;iks. Now a hint 

 til berry growers and I will stop raniblitig. 

 Having immense qnantities of Tulips, I 

 thrust one (iown at the root of every Straw- 

 berry plant when 1 plant a new bed; and you 



HERBACEOUS P/€ONY, Pl-ANT AND 



ought to see my Strawberrygarden in spring. 

 Long before the berries ripen it is a vast 

 Tulip garden; hundreds waving all colors 

 in the wind. They do no harm whatever 

 to the Strawberries or plants. Try it. Noth- 

 ing multiplies fa.ster than Tulips you know, 

 and fifty bought for two dollars will in a 

 few years make a htmdred. 



feeding. The one thing to be guarded 

 against is water standing about the roots 

 during winter. While both classes are 

 termed hardy, still the tree kind is slightly 

 less so than the other, hence it is well to 

 furnish it with a mulch over the roots 

 through each winter. 



In planting out, IJa-onies no doubt find 

 their best use as single specimens or 

 clumps of any num- 

 ber of plants, on the 

 lawn. Under liberal 

 treatment in the way 

 of soil i)reparation 

 here,nothing can well 

 stir pass them for 

 strong ornamental 

 effects. They are also 

 suitable for planting 

 along with other 

 liardy plants in beds, 

 while their use is 

 strongly recommend- 

 ed by some for the 

 wild giuden, the large 

 clusters of brilliant 

 flowers springing out 

 of a mass of deep 

 gi-een foliage, pro- 

 ducing a fine effect. 



FLOWER. 



The Paeonies as Garden Plants. 



Of a large collection of hardy ornamental 

 plants, grown by the writer, the Pajonies 

 stand forth as possessing more good quali- 

 ties, commending them to wide culture, and 

 less objectionable ones thau any other plants 

 that can now be called to mind. The flowers 

 vie \vith the Rose in beauty of color and 

 form, and with the Rhododendron in general 

 attractiveness. The plants unlike many 

 others of their class, continue handsome and 

 neat in foliage and form from spring until 

 fall, which fact allows of their being grown 

 in conspicuous groups on the lawn with the 

 best of effect. Then the qualities of perfect 

 hardiness in all parts of our country, a vig- 

 orous habit and healthy growth, and a re- 

 markable freedom from diseases and insects 

 are points which must not be overlooked by 

 those who are seeking embellishing mater- 

 ial of the best kinds for lawn and garden. 



As regards classification there are two 

 quite distinct branches: namely, the Herba- 

 ceous PcBonies which, in some of the older 

 varieties, are now common, and the Tree or 

 Shrubby sorta. The Tree Pajony (P. Muntaii) 

 was introduced a hundred or so years ago 

 from tUiina and Japan. 



The Herbaceous class is ranked into three 

 divisions. The Old Double White or Chinese 

 (P. alhljlora formerly eilulix) with its off- 

 spring, forming much the largest division, 

 and coming from Tartary in Asia, nearly 

 ■i'M years ago; the Old Double Red (P. 

 nffii'lualis), with its numerous varieties, and 

 which is indigenous to Europe. In the 

 latter class is also included the beautiful 

 Fennel-leaved Pasony (P tennifoJia), 

 brought into notice in 170.5 from Crimea. 

 The third section P. iiaradoxd is the smallest 

 and contains only a few varieties of a 

 purplish red color. There are other species 

 distinguished chiefly by botanical difference 

 of no special interest to fiower growers. 



Peonies are plants of very easy culture. 

 They delight in a soil deeply fl"K an<l having 

 plenty of well rotted manure workeil into 

 it— any plant that produces such luxuriant 

 foliage and immense blooms requires liberal 



The Herbaceous sorts are easily propa- 

 gated by dividing the roots in the fall, or 

 else very early in the spring. The Tree 

 Paiony can also be increased by division, 

 but the more general plan is to layer them 

 or else to graft on roots of such common 

 sorts as increase rapidly. For layering, the 

 parent plants should be grown in a 

 partially shaded and well sheltered place, 

 where they need not be disturbed, as it 

 usually requires at least two years before 

 the new plants can be safely removed. On 

 the branches used there are tongues formed 

 by cutting lengthwise along the shoot very 

 carefully, as the wood is easily broken; 

 sandy soil is then placed about the stock 

 plant in sufficient quantity to allow of the 

 prepared parts being well imbedded therein. 



The operation of grafting is not difficult 

 to perform; in the .spring, select strong 

 single roots, plant them in rich soil, for 

 getting a good growth by September, when 

 a scion, three or four inches long, without a 

 fiower bud, is cut frfim the sort to be in- 

 creased, made sharp and inserted in the 

 crown of the root; 

 earth being used to 

 cover up the place 

 of union. If care- 

 fully done this will 

 unite with no fur- 

 ther trouble. In the 

 summer with half 

 ripened wood, cut- 

 tings having a heel 

 of old wood, can 

 be rooted under a 

 hand glass. 



A use to which 

 the Tree Pieony i^ 

 sometimes put with 

 satisfactory results, 

 is that of growing 

 in pots for winter 

 blooming in the 

 greenhouse; just 

 before the ground 

 freezes solidly, pot 

 whatever number is 

 desired and keep in a cool place; about six 

 weeks before being wanted, bring into mild 

 heat, and, after starting, water with manure 

 two or three times a week. The soil cannot 

 be made too rich for pot culture. After 

 blooming they can be planted outside, but 

 no flowers «ill be borne for several years 

 after having l)een forced. 



In the matter of varieties, our leading 

 nurserymen now have long lists of the newer 



and improved sorts, some of which are re- 

 markably tine. Of these there are l)y far 

 too many to notice here. A small list might 

 in<lude the following: tennifolia, festiva 

 maxinui, edulis, Humei, Louis Van Houtte, 

 rubra triumphans, carnea striata and Vic- 

 toria tricolor; of Tree Pa-onies, Blanche 

 Noisette, Roi des C^erises, extensa, Pride 

 of Hong Kong and Zenohia. 



Report on Sonne New Roses. 



MKS. H. D. WELCOME, TABHOUTH CO.. HAINE. 



Several of the new Roses added U) my 

 collection have bloomed. Mrs. .lohn Laing, 

 received by mail, nuide rapid growth, and 

 developed two biuls which grew to a very 

 large size. The most forward one was long 

 in unfolding and gave evidence that there 

 Wiis not sufficient strength in the plant to 

 produce a perfect Rose. It oi)ened however 

 into a grand flower thmigh I must .say the 

 outer petals of the bud were partly decayed. 

 If my .small plant could give such a large 

 and beautiful flower, what mu.st they be on 

 strong well grown bushes? 



This Rose, which is bright pink in color, 

 received the gold medal at the National 

 Rose Show, London, IHsri, and was pro- 

 nounced by the horticultural nuigazines, 

 "the finest light-colored Rose ever shown in 

 England." One of our own florists has 

 testified that last year, plants only six inches 

 high, set out in June, gave him a crop of 

 show flowers every three weeks, I did not 

 think it best to let the other bud bloom as 

 the strength of the plant would center in 

 that. It is perfectly hardy. 



The new Tea Marie Lamliert has grown 

 wonderfully, putting out seven new and 

 vigorotis shoots with buds, and one luus 

 opened into a lovely white Rose, very fra- 

 grant. This is a seedling from Mme. Bravy, 

 and worthy of all praise bestowed up<jn it. 



Perle d' Or, added in ,Inne to my Polyan- 

 tha collection is quite a novelty among 

 them both in form ami color. The buds 

 just before opening, are of a rich apricot 

 color, when in Ijloom change to salmon. 

 The Rose is flat when fully open. It mani- 

 fests the freeness of bloom so characteristic 

 of this class. All of the Polyanthas are 

 entirely hardy, and some are very fine. 



Pierre Guillot, one of the finest of the 

 Hybrid Teas, new to me, has jusi opened. 



LL DEVELOPED TREE P/tONY, 



It is a large and beautiful Ro.se, of a deep 

 bright crimson shade. 



Adrienne Christophle is not a new Rose, 

 but 1 had never seen it until this .sea-son. It 

 is so unique in its beauty, I want to speak a 

 good word for it. It is a lovely shade of 

 coppery yellow with a brilliant carmine 

 center. The outer petals are cream color 

 flxLshed wil h a delicate violet on the margin. 

 Very beautiful ami sweet. 



