78. Paeonia officinalis, vars. (Covtinurd) 



Peonies should be liberally watered at all times, especially when in bloom. 

 Watering with liquid manure is beneficial when the ground is dry. It 

 usually requires two or 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 dividing or planting is in the early fall, Sep- 

 tember or October, though with care any time from the middle of August 

 till early spring will do. In winter a covering of manure should hv given 

 which should be well worked into the ground in spring. 



Propagate by division. 



The old-fashioned varieties, all of which are excellent, are: 



Var. rubra plena. "Old Double Crimson," very double, deep rich 

 crimson. 



Var. rosea plena. "Old Double Rose," very double, bright rose. 



Var. alba plena {mutdbilis alba). "Old Double Flesh-White," very 

 double, bright coral changing to pure white. 



Excellent single varieties are: 



Var. anemoncT flora. Deep blood-crimson, almost single flowers, with 

 a mass of twisted maroon stamens edged with yellow. 



Var. Otto Froebel. Single, pale cherry-red flowers. 



Var. rosea. Single, deep rose flowers. 



Var. Sabini. Single, deep crimson flowers with golden stamens. 



P. lobdta. A species very similar to P. officinalis, has single cerise- 

 salmon flowers; the only Peony of this color. 



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