HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS 93 



variety of colour to rank with the most valuable of border plants, 

 but they are very useful. They will grow freely in any deep, 

 fertile ground, and are easily propagated by division. In most 

 heavy, well-manured soils they will grow into huge clumps, and 

 will remain a long time in beauty. 



Paeonies. By common consent the Paeony is accepted as one 

 of the very finest of our hardy plants. During recent years the 

 number of varieties has grown almost as rapidly as those of 

 Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, and Sweet 

 Peas. They now form a goodly band, 

 rich in vigour, in size of bloom, in 

 brilliancy and diversity of colour, and 

 in perfume. Old impressions of the 

 Paeony were of a somewhat gaudy 

 flower, if anything over-bold. It was 

 not regarded as a refined flower, like 

 an Auricula or a Carnation. Probably 

 some of the old-time florists would 

 turn in their graves at the thought of 

 Paeonies being grown to the exclusion 



DISBUDDING TO OBTAIN LARGE BLOOMS 

 OR SPIKES 



of Bizarre Tulips and laced Pinks, but Exam P les: Pae ^ Delphiniums and_c- 



nations. A, crown buds to be retained ; 



B, B, side buds and shoots to be removed 

 at dark lines. 



they certainly are. Perhaps the old- 

 timer would forgive us, however, for 

 our apparent backsliding if he could revisit the scenes of his 

 triumphs with the flowers that are now dying, and see the 

 wonderful improvements that have been made with others. When 

 he saw Paeonies of the softest rose, the most delicate pink, the 

 silkiest crimson, the purest white, Paeonies single and Paeonies 

 double, Paeonies with the powerful perfume of a Damask Rose, 

 Paeonies of the finest form and most exquisite refinement in 

 short, Paeonies full of beauty, refinement, and charm his heart 

 would soften, and he would take the flower to his bosom, as a 

 treasure of great price. 



