P.SOXY FLOWER. 



CHINESE PEONIES. 



The Chinese Pseomes are so valuable on account of their large size, beautiful coloring and 

 delightful fragrance, and so entirely hardy and vigorous, that I am anxious all my customers 



should have at least a White and a 

 Pink Paeony. Fragrans is one of 

 the best Pink varieties, but there 

 are few exhibitions that present such 

 a wonderful combination of colors 

 as a bed of Pseonies. The Pasonies 

 are perfectly hardy, never suffering 

 injury by cold, and will succeed in 

 any ground, unless so wet that the 

 water will lay on the surface in the 

 | winter and spring. They may be 

 planted either in the autumn or 

 spring, and are transported with 

 greater safety than almost any 

 plant not one in a hundred fail- 

 ing. They are also easily increased 

 by division of the roots. A little 

 extra attention in the way of ma- 

 nure will induce a vigorous and 

 rapid growth. We do not know of 

 anything that injures the Paeony 

 except starving in a poor soil and 

 standing water during the cold sea- 

 son. For large floral decorations few of our flowers can surpass the Paeonies. They seem 

 designed for a grand display, without anything cheap or gaudy in their appearance. The large 



engraving shows a flower about 



one-half natural size, though it 



must be understood there is a 



good deal of difference in the 



formation of flowers of different 



; varieties. The small cuts give a 

 pretty good idea of the form and , 



habit of both plant and roots, the 



drawings being taken from a full 



grown and vigorous plant the 



second season after planting. 

 Such a growth must not be expected the first season, nor should flowers be looked for or desired. 

 Secure first a good strong plant, and then flowers will come in abundance. Those who are so 

 impatient that they will plant only those things that flower the first season will never be very suc- 

 cessful florists. Time passes swiftly, and plants grow while we work and sleep and travel. 



VIOLETS. 



The little sweet Violet is a plant that we need not describe very particularly, for it has not 

 only made itself known, but universally 

 loved by its sweetness. A single flower 

 will perfume a bouquet, or a room, with its 

 delightful aroma. It is also perfectly hardy 

 and flowers freely very early in the spring. 

 The color is blue, and our engraving shows 



pretty faithfully the habit of the plant and I ^^^M&L^JjIkW V"* 

 the size and appearance of the flower. ^? \<^*Z*SL \ 



Plants may be set out either in the spring or autumn, and can be increased by division when they 

 attain a large size. The Violet flowers well in the house in winter if not kept too hot and dry. 



123 



P.COXY PLANT. 



PAEONY ROOT. 



