PAEONIES AT THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 



varieties of the tree 

 paeony have been tes- 

 ted at the Central 

 Experimental Farm, 

 but none of them 

 have been found en- 

 tirely hardy. When 

 the snow comes early 

 and covers the ground 

 well during the winter 

 they pass through this 

 trying period without 

 much injury, but in 

 seasons where the 

 snow covering is in- 

 sufficient they are us- 

 ually killed back near- 

 ly to the ground and 

 not unfrequently kill- 

 ed outright. 



The herbaceous 

 paeony, with which in 

 this communication 

 we are chiefly con- 

 cerned is one of the 

 hardiest and best 

 known of all per- 

 ennials, and owing 

 largely to the re- 

 cent introduction of 

 many new and beautiful varieties its 

 popularity is steadily increasing. It is 

 hardy not only in the eastern provinces 

 of Canada but also in the north-west 

 portions where the winter climate is 

 much more severe. At the branch ex- 

 perimental farms at Brandon, in Mani- 

 toba, and at Indian Head, in Eastern 

 Assiniboia, a number of varieties have 

 been tested during the past five or six 

 years and most of them have proven 

 quite hardy and have borne flowers very 

 freely for the past two years. The 

 paeony succeeds well under almost 

 every condition, and will thrive even in 

 the gardens of the negligent and care- 



FlG. 1489. — SOLFATERRE. 



less, but when well cared for it responds 

 to good treatment by producing a 

 wealth of magnificent flowers of a most 

 attractive character. 



The tubers as supplied by the dealers 

 especially of the newer sorts, are com- 

 paratively small, and do not usually 

 flower the first year, but they grow 

 rapidly and if left undisturbed for three 

 or four years they form extensive clumps 

 which produce flowers in great number 

 and of large size. The plant is propa- 

 gated by division of the roots, but where 

 fine flowers are desired the parent plants 

 should be disturbed as little as possible. 

 The flowers are very varied in color as- 



