P.EONY. 219 



seed, and by layering ; if by seed, in the same manner as 

 recommended for the herbaceous. As this variety is 

 more tender than the other, it will require more care. 

 The shrubby may also be increased by cuttings, and by 

 grafting into the other root. 



The following directions are copied from Maund's 

 Botanic Garden, part vi, page 241 : " In February, se- 

 lect any of the stems of the Paeonia Moutan, or all may 

 be used ; and, at the distance of half an inch from the 

 centre of each bud, both above and below it, cut entirely 

 round the stem a small ring of the bark, rather more 

 than the sixteenth of an inch wide, in the manner of 

 common ringing, as practised on fruit trees ; thus every 

 bud will occupy an inch of the stem, when the direct 

 construction of its bark is obstructed, both above and be- 

 low, by the rings Which have been cut out of it. The 

 stems thus prepared, are then to be laid, horizontally, 

 about three inches beneath the soil, leaving only the 

 leading bud at the end of each branch above the surface. 

 In six months every bud will have made vigorous shoots, 

 and in general will have two radical fibres at its base. 

 In August remove the soil from above the layers, and, 

 having raised the newly made shoots, carefully separate 

 each young root from the main layer, by passing a small 

 knife from one ring to the other, cutting out about one 

 third part of the old stem. The young plants should be im- 

 mediately potted, to remain till they are required for 

 planting out in their final situation. After thus gather- 

 ing the first crop of young plants, the old layers should 

 be again covered with good soil, and left as before ; and 

 in the following summer, a second and greater crop 



