13 i A LITTLE BOOK OF PERENNIALS 



Preparation of the soil is one of the biggest factors in growing healthy 

 plants. They are heavy feeders and require a deeply prepared soil. 

 The best soil is a heavy loam, one which is not too heavy with clay nor 

 too hght with sand. Stiff yellow clay, a sour soil or an abundance of 

 fresh manure in the soil hinder the proper growth of the roots and 

 plant. The bed should be prepared very deeply, the soil being mixed 

 with well-rotted cow manure. Each plant should be given a space 

 3 feet in diameter for its development. The soil should be retentive of 

 moisture, yet well drained, for the plants rot out if the ground is so low 

 that the water will stand in pools around the plant during the Winter. 

 The manure should not be mixed among the roots, but clean soil should 

 be next to the roots and then the manure. The roots should be set 

 in the soil so that the top eye is not more than 2 inches or 3 inches 

 from the surface. 



When the plants have finished blooming in the Summer, work 

 must be begun to insure a good next year's crop. Weeds should be 

 kept dowTi all during the Summer, for they rob the soil of its richness. 

 The first Winter the roots are loose in the soil and will need a good 

 coating of manure as a mulch appKed after the ground is thoroughly 

 frozen. This will prevent the roots from being heaved out of the 

 ground, due to alternate freezing and thawing. The maniu-e should 

 not be allowed to remain about the plants in the Summer but worked 

 into the soil. Diseases are spread by the presence of manure. 



When once planted. Peonies should be left alone for a number of 

 years, except for dividing and replanting, which should be done every 

 eight or ten years. 



It has been said that Peonies fade and loose their colors so readily. 

 The deUcate pink varieties fade to a white. This can be remedied by 

 either cutting the stems when the bud is about to open, or by erecting 

 a cheesecloth screen over the plants. This prevents the hot sunhght 

 from bleaching out the color. 



Although Peonies are free from insects, they are very subject to 

 a pernicious bud rot. Many Peonies which do not seem able to mature 

 their buds are affected with this disease. It can be prevented by 

 avoiding manure about the crowns of the plants and by spraying weekly 

 from the first signs of Spring imtil sometime in May. Bordeaux Mix- 

 ture is the proper spray to use. 



Many Peonies have two, three or more buds to a single stem. If 

 it is a single variety they should be left as they are because the spray 

 effect of flowers produced is very attractive. But with the large 

 double sorts, all except the largest center bud (terminal) should be 

 removed. This disbudding throws all the strength and food into one 



