July, 1907 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



169 



TKe Peony of Valxie for West 



C. D. Harrison, Feony Specialist, YorK, NebrasKa 



IN recent years great strides have been 

 made in the development of the 

 peony. All through eastern and 

 western Canada it is a brilliant success. 

 At the Brandon Experiment Station, 

 Manitoba, one clump had sixty fine 

 blooms, and the plants never were 

 mulched or manured. Most cheering 

 reports come also from Saskatchewan 

 and Alberta. It is encouraging to know 

 that one of the most glorious, transcend- 

 ently beautiful and fragrant of flowers 

 will grow anywhere that it is planted or 

 horse radish can thrive. In fact, peony 

 blooms are much finer in Canada than 

 in Kansas or Nebraska, because the air 

 is cooler. After years of careful testing, 

 however, the writer finds a great differ- 

 ence in the hardiness of the different 

 varieties. The new manual has thus 

 classified them: The Indolent, the Sensi- 

 tive, and the Free-blooming. [Note — 

 Mention will be made of this manual in 

 the August issue. — Editor]. 



Those of you that have peonies, just 

 watch them. Some kinds never seem 

 to bloom. They give all their vigor to 

 foliage. Others are nipped in the bud, 

 and you will find a little black ball 

 where there should be a flower. These 

 are the sensitive ones. There will be 

 others that "glory in tribulation"; 

 they care nothing for the sudden changes 

 and severity of the weather or the 

 untimely frosts. 



Most of the kinds sent out by James 

 Kelway & Son, of England, are very 

 sensitive. I have had several kinds 

 i from them which have not given a bloom 

 in five years. Now, as we raise peonies 

 for flowers, we cannot give them a place 

 if they cannot bloom in several years. 



Some sorts bloom on the least provo- 

 cation . We had a bad spring, some days 

 ninety-five degrees above, and in a dav 

 or two the ground would be frozen, and 

 yet some kinds of peonies have not paid 

 the least attention to such trying ordeals. 

 One of the best and hardiest is Golden 

 Harvest, which originated in Nebraska. 

 The new manual gives a fair description 

 ^^of it. I never knew it to fail, and 

 ^^■||ports from Manitoba speak in the 

 ^^■ghest praise of it. The resplendent 

 ^^Bironess Schroder blooms abundantly. 

 ^^^■Esperence is a glorious fragrant pink, 

 ^^Hpe of the very earliest ; this never fails. 

 ^^Fhere are many others that can be relied 

 on. There are, however, 2,000 named 

 sorts, many of rare beauty, but only 

 about one-fourth of them can be depended 

 on for annual blooming. There are no 

 more satisfactory plants raised than 

 peonies. 



At present there are many people 

 engaged in raising new varieties. This 

 is a most fascinating work. The writer 



one can engage in the business and reap 

 much profit and pleasure. Millions are 

 needed for the north and the vast north- 

 west. When it is known that the finest 

 of all the flowers finds a paradise in all 

 that region it will give a zest to the 

 business. Men, women and children, 

 with but little experience, can engage 

 in the work. 



Care of Dahlias 



The later that dahlias are planted, the 

 greater the chance of freedom from 

 injury by the dahlia "bug." Late 

 planted dahlias produce the best blos- 

 soms. They do best in cool, moist 

 seasons. In dry seasons the striped 



The lateral branches thereby will be 

 made to start near the ground. 



When flowering time arrives, a little 

 disbudding must be done. The buds 

 usually are produced in threes. As the 

 centre one generally makes the best 

 flowers, it is wise to pinch the other two 

 off. This will result in a much better 

 bloom. 



Xo K.eep Cut Flowers FresH 



Those who wish to make their cut 

 flowers last the longest, so that they can 

 get the most pleasure out of them, should 

 be careful to give them a little extra 

 attention in order to prevent their losing 

 their beauty too soon. This is especially 

 desirable during the winter where flowers 

 have to be bought at a high price from 

 a florist, or^^some patient home-grower 



A View of Midsummer Comfort and Beauty 



dahlia "bug" is most active. It is dif- 

 ficult to combat, but when conditions 

 are unfavorable for it (that is, cool, 

 moist weather with plants started late 

 in the season) it will not do much 

 damage. 



Dahlias are gross feeders. If you 

 desire fine flowers, you must not allow 

 the plants to suffer from want of water 

 or stimulants. Excellent fertihzing 

 material for dahlias is liquid manure. 



In most home gardens dahlia plants 

 are allowed to reach their full height and 



are tied to stakes. To grow them with - 



has 25,000 on the way, and among them out stakes, pinch out the centre of each 

 there will be some of rare merit. Any- plant after it makes two or three joints. 



has spent much time and care in bring- 

 ing her plants into bloom. 



The simplest way to keep blossoms 

 fresh : see that the ends of the stems are 

 cut with a sharp knife in a clean, even 

 cut, and to clip off a little more from the 

 ends of each just before giving the 

 flowers fresh water every morning. Do 

 not let the flowers be too crowded in the 

 vase and keep them if possible where 

 they will not be in direct sunshine, nor 

 too near the heat from the register or 

 radiator. 



At night set the vase containing the 

 flowers in a vessel of water and place in 

 a cool place. Some persons take the 



