IN THE FRONT YARD. 199 



IN PLANTING^ THE CONDITION OF THE BUD MUST BE 

 TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. 



This is very important. Tlie Paeony usually goes 

 into a dormant condition about the middle of August. 

 I have had excellent success in planting at that time, 

 for the buds that form for the next spring are small and 

 tough, and they can be handled Avithout danger of in- 

 juring them. As a general thing, however, Septem- 

 ber is the best time, for if very hot in AugTist it will 

 not do to ship. If packed too moist they might rot. 

 When planted at this time little rootlets begin to grow 

 and the plant is all ready for its spring growth. You 

 will notice that those left in the ground and apparently 

 dormant are making a fine growth of fibrous rootlets, 

 and the longer they are left the more numerous they will 

 be. The buds are growing too, and often old roots will 

 have a net of rootlets around them, and the buds will be 

 much larger and more liable to damage than if planted 

 earlier. Of course Paeonies can be planted any time 

 from the first of September till the middle of the fol- 

 lowing May; but we are speaking of the best time. 

 I have often planted strong, left over roots from the 

 first to the middle of May, and if the ground is rich 

 and in the best condition, have cut good crops of flowers 

 from them a few weeks after planting. 



There are various ways of lengthening the flowering 

 season. A lady had occasion to dig a cellar, and eight- 

 een inches of dirt were thrown over a strong clump. 

 She supposed of course they were dead, but two weeks 



