P^ONIA 



1189 



Peonies are rarely attacked by any insect, i 



iingous disease, m-itlii-r clci tli<-y reiiuire any 



flowc 



dens. Nearly :i!i ot ihr "lie thousand or more named 

 Uouhio varieiics u'lnwii :a jiresent have been obtained 

 by crossiiii; tin- varimis l..nns of P. albiflora and offici- 

 nalis. In isr.ri i.Tily 2-4 double varieties were Itnown. 

 The single-llewering sorts are not so popular as the 

 double ones, for thev do not keep as long when cut and 

 faile mure ra|ii.lly when on the plant. 



.S'-)i7.-reoiii.^ triow in all kinds of soil, but do best 

 in a ilri ji, rirU. ratli. r in.ii^t loam. A clay subsoil, if 

 well .liaiiH il, i- \ ■■\-y Im nriiilal when blooms are desired, 

 but the iiiImI' faiiiii) iiii.i-e in lighter soil if grown for 

 pru]iat;atiiif; [mrijuses. In preparing the bed trench the 

 soil thor(inj;bly two or more feet deep, working in a 

 great quantity of good rich cow manure, as the plants 

 are gross feeders. The ground should be kept well 

 tilled, and an annual top-dressing put above the plants 

 in November; this should be forked into the soil the 

 next spring. Peonies should have a liberal supply of 

 water at all times, and especially while in bloom. 

 Liquid manure, when applied during the growing sea- 

 son and at a time when the ground is drv. trivr-s :::... m1 

 returns, both in the growth of the plant an. I <iy.<- ..f the 



Planting. — The crowns should be set _' iiele^ h. Imh 

 the surface. In transplanting, it is a t^mni idi a to re 

 move all the old earth so as to start with fresh, unim- 

 poverished soil next to the roots. The flowers produced 

 on small divided plants are likely to be imperfect, but 

 when thoroughly established a plant will continue to 

 bloom if undisturbed for upwards of twenty years. 

 During the period of blooming an inconspicuous wire 

 support is desirable, as a heavy rain often beats down 

 the flowers. 



Groiipuif/. — The host of ancient and modem varieties 

 available, ranging from inirest white to deepest crim- 



son, in such a diversity of form and size, afford great 

 opportunity for the carrying out of extensive color 

 schemes. Peonies do well in partial shade, which pro- 

 longs and intensifies the color of the bloom, and there- 

 fore can be used to advantage to brighten up somber 

 nooks. The period of blooming for herbaceous Peonies 



ranges from tne middle of May through the month of 

 June. They grow from 1-3 feet high, and are therefore 

 suitable for planting in front of shrubbery, along drive- 

 ways, and are especially pleasing when entering into a 

 distant vista. When planted in a border with fall-bloom- 



16i6. Pseonia albiflora. 



ing perennials, such as phlox, funkia, etc., their rich 

 glossy foliage is very effective. 



/Vi IT /»(•/. — Lift the plants in October and place in a 

 coMfranie where they will be accessible when the time 

 tor I'oninu' arrives. When brought under glass, a uni- 

 iorni t-iiiperature of .'if)® to fiO° should be maintained. 

 By t'eeiiiii : u, II with linniil manure, strong blooms can 



essary i h.ing forced again. To 



secure i ( , I ! . , ii'iihle-flowering varieties, 



as f.irnied. When the 



.1 oi ihe terminal one, 



II ■'•■'. The old flowers 



ly seed follicles 



\ . \h iii-i lie- plant. It is 



le iaded loliage on all Peo- 



inay not interfere with the 



removi- iL. [ ii. ml hu.!- 

 first lateral bud is r,-taiiP 

 a later period of bloom Ihlj 

 should be cutoff, so thii 

 will be formed, and therr 

 also important to remove 

 nies in November, so that i 

 next season's shoots. 



There are three methods by which Peonies are propa- 

 gated : by division of roots (the most prevalent), by 

 t^rat'tiiiL'. to inerease rare sorts, and by seeds, to obtain 



/'(. ,,,,.,, ,,/ /i'oo(s.— This is the easiest and most sat- 

 ist'aeioi\ iii,ih.,d. The roots may be lifted and divided 

 any time liom tie- nii.hlle of August until the stalks 

 appear au'ain in th-^ ^|>rintr. The best time, however, is 



in the earlv fall, when tl nt surfaces soon callus 



over and new r..oilet.-. forni before tlie frost sets in. 



the le 

 be ma 





like most tuberous plants 

 siderable exposure and cai 

 with safety. 



Orafling. — This method 

 Peonies when new anil in 



out an e\e should also be 

 a similar maimer and make 

 two years' time. Peonies, 

 when dornmnt stand con- 

 be shipped long distances 



herb: 





apidly 

 .1 into 



the tuber of .some strom i . 



all the previous eyes ba> . l... opera- 



tion is generallj' perforimd in Au^u-L. Tlu \ slionld be 

 placed in frames for the winter and transplanted the 

 next year into nursery rows. 



Seeds. —Propagating by seed is somewhat tedious, 

 and is only resorted to for increasing distinct species 

 and for obtaining new varieties by hybridization. The 

 seeds should be gathered as soon as ripe and kept damp 

 until sown in November. A mulch during the first sea- 

 son will keep the ground moist and prevent weeds from 

 growing. Generally two years are required for the seed 

 to germinate and three more before a well-developed 

 bloom can be expected. Wn. A. Peterson. 



