464 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



but while such flowers are 

 most useful, they often 

 have absolutely no keep- 

 ing qualities. But, for all 

 that, if you have space 

 outdoors by all means de- 

 vote some of it to a nice 

 lot of Peonies and be good 

 to them. 



Peonies are exactly 

 like Boston Ferns or Hy- 

 drangea paniculata grandi- 

 flora. With the tens and 

 hundreds of thousands of 

 plants sold to the public 

 each year one would think 

 that by this time every- 

 body must have all they 

 want. In the case of 

 Peonies in particular, few 

 other plants can get along 

 with less care or stand 

 more abuse; yet each 

 year there seems to be a 

 greater demand for them. 

 This is bound to keep on; 

 in fact, as we go along more will be wanted than ever before. 



Among the so-called hardy plants that your patron who is 

 building a new house will first think of planting, are Peonies. Next, 

 most likely will come Iris, then Larkspur or Hollyhocks, and so 

 on. With a good stock of Peonies on your own grounds you can 

 supply that sort of demand. But leave the filling of an order calling 

 for one or two of each of twenty-five varieties to the specialist; or 

 call on him to fill the order. For very few of us who make Peony 

 growing a side line will find it profitable to either carry great numbers 

 of plants or a great number of varieties. The fewer the sorts you 

 have, the more easily they are kept separate. I don't believe in 

 growing your own stock in order to compete with or undersell the 

 nurseryman or specialist, but mainly so that, first, you may have a 

 good supply of flowers yourself during Peony season and second, 

 you may be able to supply field clumps during Spring and Fall 

 whenever there is a call for them. 



To my way of thinking, your patrons have a right to expect 

 you, as a local florist, to carry Peonies and other hardy stock to supply 



Fig. 232. P^EONIA FESTIVA MAXIMA is one of 

 the oldest yet one of the best of Peonies. Every 

 retail grower should have a good-sized row to 

 cut from and to sell as stock in Fall and Spring 



