268 POPULAR GARDEN FLOWERS 



When the amateur opens a hardy plant catalogue 

 and turns to Paeony he may be dismayed to find that 

 plants are quoted at as much as half a guinea each ; but 

 if he reads closer he learns that the varieties offered 

 at this price are the latest novelties, and he has only to 

 turn over a page or two to find sorts offered at prices 

 falling by stages to eighteenpence or a shilling each. If 

 the price still seems rather high, he may be reminded 

 that Paeonies are not plants which can be propagated 

 rapidly, and can never, therefore, be sold as cheaply as 

 some plants. Moreover, being large plants, he will not 

 need to buy many of them. In case he is swayed by the 

 fear that cheap varieties are necessarily poor ones, I may 

 reassure him by saying that the standard of Paeonies has 

 been a high one for so many years that a six or even a 

 ten-year-old sort is still a good one. The following, for 

 instance, are fine double Paeonies, although inexpen- 

 sive : 



Denis Helve, dwarf red, very sweet. 



Dr. Brettoneau, dark rose. 



Duchesse de Nemours, white, delicious Rose perfume. 



Festiva maxima, white, red tips. 



Francois Ortigal, purplish crimson. 



Humei carnea, peach, white centre. 



Louis van Houtte, crimson, yellow anthers. 



Lucrece, pink, white centre. 



Madame Vilmorin, blush, Rose scented. 



Magnifica, white, flushed yellow, fragrant. 



Ne Plus Ultra, light rose, very fine. 



Virginie, rose, white centre, Anemone-flowered. 



They may not be so fine as the best of the modern 

 varieties which the amateur sees at a great show, the 

 highest product at once of the skill of the hybridist and 

 the experience of the professional grower ; but, when all 



