27- Paeonia moutan, vars. {Contijiued) 



especially when in bloom. Watering with liquid manure is beneficial 

 when the ground is dry. It usually requires two to three years for 

 Peonies to become well-established, but when once established they will 

 bloom if undisturbed for twenty years or more. By far the best time 

 for planting is in the early fall, September or October, though with care 

 any time from the middle of August till spring will do. In winter tree 

 Peonies should be protected with manure or straw to a depth of a foot 

 or more, and above that covered by dry leaves held down by brush or 

 light boards; a Ught wood or canvas covering at the top to shed rain is also 

 wise. In late spring the manure should be well dug into the ground 

 and the leaves removed, beginning at the bottom, those at the top of the 

 bush remaining until all danger of frost is past. 



Propagate by grafting on the roots of the herbaceous species. Plants 

 from Japan are usually grafted on the roots of a purple flowered variety, 

 whose suckers, unless constantly cut, are liable to choke the graft. 



Nearly all the tree Peonies (of which in China there are hundreds) 

 are fine, especially the single varieties. One of the best known and finest 

 is Elizabeth, with large, much-doubled, bright salmon-pink flowers. 



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