76 CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM 



with age it is important to give them plenty of room, about three feet apart each way 

 being a suitable distance. The surface soil should be kept loose throughout the 

 summer, and late in the autumn the soil should have a top-dressing of manure about 

 four inches in depth for winter protection and for turning under to enrich the soil 

 in the spring. There is no general collection of the finer cultivated varieties of 

 paeonies in the Arboretum and Botanic garden, the paeonies there being confined to the 

 original wild forms of this genus and a few of the old-fashioned cultivated varieties. 

 There is, however, a large collection of about one hundred and fifty different sorts 

 arranged in large beds on the ornamental grounds. This large collection was imported 

 chiefly from Holland and France about ten or twelve years ago by Dr. Wm. Saunders, 

 who has had personal charge of the lawns and grounds. With such a fine collection 

 it is difficult to make a small list which will include all the very desirable sorts, but 

 twelve varieties are named below which, in the writer's judgment, are among the best. 

 There are many good pseonies, and much diversity of opinion exists as to their rela- 

 tive merits. The second list was prepared by Mr. K. B. Whyte, Ottawa, from his own 

 experience, he having planted the best paeonies from the best lists from various 

 sources. The third list was prepared by Dr. A. P. Saunders, Hamilton College, 

 Clinton, N.Y., who has made a specialty of growing the best paeonies. 



LIST OF TWELVE BEST PAEONIES. C. E. F. COLLECTION. 



Artemise. Rosy pink, flesh colour in centre, faint perfume; very free bloomer. 



Berlioz. Rosy red; free bloomer, late. 



Charlemagne. Pink, shading to white at edge, sweet scented; very free bloorner. 



Festiva Maxima. White, some centre petals tipped with carmine. 



Lucrece. Rosy pink, very large; free bloomer. 



Madame d'Hour. Flesh colour, tipped with carmine; free bloomer. 



Madame Lemoinier. Pink, with creamy white centre. 



Marie Lemoine. Flesh colour, changing to white. 



Monsieur Dupont. White, showing yellow beneath; faint fragrance. 



Officinalis Old Double Rose. Deep rose; free bloomer, early. 



Offtcinalis Rubra. Crimson; free bloomer, early. 



Rubra Superba. Purplish crimson; very free bloomer. 



LIST OF TWELVE BEST PJEONIES. PREPARED BY MR. R. B. WHYTE, OTTAWA. 



Asa Gray. Salmon pink, very large; free bloomer. 



Claire Dubois. Light rose, very large; late bloomer. 



Floral Treasure (Delicatissima). Blush pink, very large, fragrant; free bloomer. 



Festiva Maxima. White, some petals tipped with carmine, very handsome. 



La Rosiere. White, with yellow centre, semi-double, very sweet scented: very 

 free bloomer. 



Lady Leonora Bramwell. Silvery rose, very fragrant; very free bloomer. 



Madame d'Hour. Flesh colour, tipped with carmine, very large; very free 

 bloomer. 



Monsieur Jules Elie. Silvery pink, very large. 



Marie Lemoine. Flesh colour, changing to white. 



Queen Victoria. White, yellow centre and red stamens. 



Rubra Superba. Purplish crimson; very free bloomer. 



Also the four early blooming varieties : 



P. officinalis alba plena, 

 P. officinalis rosea plena, 

 P. cfficinalis rubra plena, and 

 P. tenuifolia flore plena. 



