74 GARDEN GUIDE 



transferred in the Spring many of the feeding roots will be torn from 

 the plants. The roots of the Peony are thick, almost no fibrous roots 

 being formed; instead, very fine, delicate feeding roots start from the 

 main roots. 



The plants should be planted at least three feet apart and the 

 crowns should be buried three inches below the surface. If they are 

 planted too shallow the Winder frosts will- heave them from the soil. 

 A Winter mulch of from four to six inches of well decayed manure will 

 also prevent this injury. When the plants have finished blooming, 

 the cultivation must not be neglected since they must make a good 

 growth and mature their foliage, else the crop of bloom for the next 

 year will suffer. Every eight or ten years the Peony should be divided 

 and replanted. It takes two or three years* for a commercial three- to 

 five-eyed root to throw characteristic blooms. 



DISBUDDING. The albiflora varieties produce many buds in a 

 cluster; if the best size blooms are preferred, all but the main or crown 

 bud should be removed while they are yet small. Some weaker growing 

 varieties are especially benefited by this practice. Single varieties 

 are not disbudded. 



STAKING. Certain very floriferous varieties will need some 

 sort of support. One of the best and most permanent methods is to 

 build a rack of wood over the Peony border and train the young shoots 

 inside of this rack. For individual plants there is no better way than 

 to use a barrel hoop supported on three uprights. 



DISEASES. There are several diseases which attack the leaves, 

 buds and stems. They are easily kept in check by spraying with 

 Bordeaux mixture when the plants first start into growth in the 

 Spring. Besides this, the diseased parts and all stems should be 

 burned each Fall, for only by careful sanitation can the trouble be 

 lessened. 



THE GANNA 



These handsome subjects mark a wonderful development by the 

 plant breeder. At first the Gannas were only prized as a foliage plant; 

 the petals were narrow and the flower was very unattractive. Now 

 we have an excellent series of wonderful Cannas with superbly colored 

 gigantic flowers, all of which are of easy culture and great value for 

 Jhe garden, where they are planted in formal beds or mixed in the 

 perennial border. 



STARTING GANNAS. Early in April the 'roots, which have been 

 stored during the Winter, are best cut up so that there are one to three 

 buds or eyes on each piece. They can then be planted in boxes of sand 

 or sandy soil and placed in a light window. If the season is late and 



