Some Remarks on Ike Tree Pceony. 377 



shrubby ones, unless there is a greater stock of the more common 

 kinds than is wanted, and it is wished to increase a rare variety. 

 The operation is performed in the manner called crown grafting. 

 A few weeks before grafting, the earth is drawn away from the 

 roots; just before the plants make their autumn growth, it is 

 drawn up again, and the operation performed. TJie plants must 

 be protected from frost during winter, and in the spring they will 

 begin to grow; they are afterwards treated as established plants. 

 A method was, a few years since, communicated in the Garden- 

 erh Magazine^ of grafting the shoots on the herbaceous species 

 P. officinalis. It is as follows: — take off the cuttings of any of 

 the tree kinds; then slit the tuber, from the crown downwards, 

 about two inches; form the scion like a wedge, insert it into the 

 slit in the tuber, fitting the barks on one side as exactly as pos- 

 sible; bind them well together with strong bass, over which put 

 a brass wire, to prevent the parts spreading when the bass is de- 

 cayed. They are then potted deep enough to allow the earth to 

 cover the tuber, and set in a cold frame or pit, kept close and 

 rather dry, and shaded from the sun for a month. Protect from 

 frost during winter, and afterwards treat them hke old plants. 



In the cultivation of the plants very little care is needed. If 

 growing in pots, they may be placed in a back shed, or any situ- 

 ation until wanted to flower. The only care requisite is, in not 

 allowing the plants to start suddenly into growth, and bud pre- 

 maturely. If standing in the green-house, they should be kept 

 away from the flues, or hot water pipes, as heat is injurious to the 

 plants; when in bloom keep them in a shady part of the house, 

 and the beauty of the flowers will be longer preserved. After the 

 flowers have faded, set the plants in the open air; repot them every 

 year. The compost, as the plants get stronger, should be most- 

 ly loam, with a little leaf-mould. Plants in the border only re- 

 quire a good loamy soil, and occasional prunings. 



We have thus, though we fear at too great length, given our 

 readers a full account of the tree paeony. We shall endeavor to 

 keep in view the production of all new varieties, and all that are 

 worthy of note will be speedily made known through our pages. 

 In the mean time we hope the amateur florists of our vicinity 

 will endeavor to produce from seed new and choice sorts. Pa- 

 tience is only wanting to ensure to the grower a rich reward for 

 his labors. We would also request those persons, who have the 

 facihties, to procure plants from China, in the hope that some 

 of their wonderful sorts, if such they have, may be accidentally 

 introduced. 



VOL. II. NO. X. 48 



