THE PEONY 69 



SO well was a real personality to him. A walk with him about the 

 garden meant a lingering at every step to consider the merits, the 

 history, or some cultural point in regard to the plants that were as 

 his children. When nearly ninety, he planted Peony seeds just 

 the same as in his earlier years, and some of his posthumous- seed- 

 lings are among his best." His varieties are all of unusual merit. 

 Milton Hill and Paul Fisher are among the best; Walter Faxon 

 stands alone, unapproached by any other Peony in its color, the 

 nearest true deep pink; while Rubra Superba, crimson, and Grandi- 

 flora, soft shell-pink, still stand at the head, as the best and very 

 latest of these colors to bloom. H. A. Terry, of Crescent, Iowa, 

 early became interested in Peonies, and produced many varieties, 

 the best probabl}^ being Grover Cleveland, Etta, Emma, Princess 

 Ellen, Euphemia, and Stephanie. Writing in 1904 he says, "I 

 am now in my eightieth year, and do not know how long I shall 

 continue to grow Peonies, but I want to be surrounded by thetn as 

 long as I live. They are like my children, very dear to me." 



It was in Boston, in 1906, that I first met Mr. Hollis and saw his 

 beautiful blooms on exhibition. I thought them fine then, and in 

 my garden since they have not disappointed me. He was a genial, 

 kindly gentleman, with means and leisure to devote his time to 

 his favorites. I visited him in 1910 when his Peonies were in bloom. 

 Although stricken then with a fatal illness, unable to walk alone, 

 he sat in the little summer-house overlooking his Peonies, happy 

 in the sight of them, still able to talk with enthusiasm about his 

 treasures and call them by name. Among his many fine ones are 

 Paradise, Welcome Guest, Maude L. Richardson, Standard Bearer, 

 George Washington, Bunker Hill, and Tragedie. Mention must 

 also be made of his Japanese types, of which he raised a number 

 which are distinct and fine. 



Mrs. Sarah A. Pleas, now living in \\ hittier, California at the 

 advanced age of over 83 years, is as actively interested in Peonies 

 as when at her home in Spiceland, Indiana, she raised and intro- 

 duced Opal, Elwood Pleas, and her now famous Jubilee, which 

 carried oft" highest honors at the National Peony Show in Phila- 

 delphia last year. A. M. Brand, of Faribault, Minnesota, for 

 many years has been giving his attention to the raising of seedling 

 Peonies. His varieties are now attracting a great deal of attention; 



