The Weekly Florists' Review. 



June 25, 1008. 



not know makes him appear ridiculous. 

 I find there is just cause for complaint 

 in the many strays that appear, only one 

 grower being free from this slipshod 

 method of sending out peonies. To 

 overcome this, all plants should be flow- 

 ered and diligently rogued before being 

 offered for sale. 



The planting which I describe is owned 

 by the Perennial Gardens, but up to the 

 present time the product of both flowers 

 and roots has been handled by the Good 

 & Reese Co. It is situated eight miles 

 from Springfield, on Mud Run, a spring- 

 fed tributary of the Great Miami river. 

 This collection contains 260 varieties, in 

 119 varieties of which the planting this 

 year was of such age and in such quan- 

 tities as to be intelligently judged. In 

 describing the varieties, I use the terms 

 in the order of their excellence, as grand, 

 extra, fine, good. But I lay no claim 

 to being a peony critic, only giving you 

 my impressions. 



Achille (Calot) — Early. Opens with 

 a very delicate blush tint, finishing pearl 

 Avhite. This variety is widely grown and 

 sold in this country under the name of 

 Marie Lemoine. Good. 



Albert Crousse (Crousse) — Late. Im- 

 mense, very full convex bloom, as per- 

 fect in outline and contour as a dahlia ; 

 best described as a delicate sea-shell 

 pink ; has all the points of excellence. A 

 most remarkable variety. Grand. 



Andre Lauries (Crousse) — Late. 

 Anemone-shaped flower of a violaceous 

 rose color. Indispensable, as it ii in 

 bloom among the latest and is a very 

 free, sure bloomer. Good. 



Asa Gray (Crousse) — Midseason. Large, 

 imbricated, perfectly formed bloo.n. 



Berlioz (Crousse) — Midseason. Full 

 globular shape. Color bright currant red; 

 as the flowers finish, the petals are dis- 

 tinctly tipped with silver. Unique. Fine. 



Canari (Guerin) — Midseason. Outer 

 petals fleshy white, with yellow center, 

 changing to white. Fine. 



Charlemagne (Crousse) — Late. Deli- 

 cate flesh, with deeper peach tinted cen- 

 ter. A beautiful flower. The bud is so 

 full of petals it has difficulty in opening. 

 Fine. 



Claire Dubois (Crousse) — Midseason. 

 Very large globular flowers; center full 

 convex; color finest clear, glossy pink, 

 with silvery reflex. Desirable. Grand. 



Couronne d'Or (Calot) — Late. Large, 

 full flower of superb form; color white, 

 reflecting yellow. Outer petals bordered 

 with carmine, showing golden stamens 

 through the flower. Beautiful. Grand. 



Dorchester ( Richardson ) — Late. Free 

 bloomer; compact, erect habit; color 

 delicate salmon pink. Fine. 



Dr. Boisduval (Guerin) — Midseason. 

 Rich, dark, velvety crimson. The color 

 cannot be improved on. Grand. 



Duchesse de Nemours (Calot) — Mid- 

 season. Large cup-shaped, sulphur white 

 flower, fading to pure white. Especially 

 fine in half open bud state. Extra. 



Eugene Verdier (Calot) — Late. Im- 

 mense in size, globular and literally 

 packed with petals. Color very delicate 

 blush. Slow in opening and holds a long 

 time. One week later than Ij 'Indispen- 

 sable. Has the largest bud of any peony 

 in this collection. Grand. 



Floral Treasure (Rosenfield) — Midsea- 

 son. Clear, dedicate pink; a very chaste, 

 beautiful and refined flower. Extra. 



Single Peony Idealty, Pale Pink. 



Opens flat and, when finished, builds up 

 high in the center, forming a cup. Flesh 

 pink, delicately dotted and flaked with 

 carmine. Extra. 



Avalanche (Crousse) — Midseason. 

 Large blooms of perfect shape. Color 

 fine milk white, with creamy center with 

 a few stripes of carmine. This we be- 

 lieve to be finer than the much Lauded 

 Baroness Schweilor. (inu-.il. 



Felix Crousse (Crousse) — Midseason. 

 Large, full, American ball-shaped bloom, 

 of richest ruby red; the finest finished 

 rtower of all the reds. Grand. 



Festiva (Donkelaer) — Late midseason. 

 A dwarf growing Festiva Maxima, 

 blooming five to six days later. Grand. 



Festiva Maxima (Miellez) — Early. 

 The standard of perfection in peonies. 

 Emirmous bloo.v.s of pure Know white. 



flecked with an occasional carmine spot 

 on edge of center petals. Grand. 



Gigantea (Van Leeuwen) — Early. 

 Found by Mr. Van Leeuwen in his col- 

 lection and named by him. Gigantea is 

 a ravishingly beautiful wild flower, of 

 clearest soft pink. Large, fragrant. 

 Grand. 



Golden Harvest (Rosenfield) — Midsea- 

 son. Large tricolored bloom. Guard 

 petals blush pink, with a distinct blush 

 white collar and blush center; a few of 

 the center petals tipped and striped with 

 carmine, the total color effect of the 

 flower being creamy pink. Gtand. 



Grandiflora (Richardson) — Late. Im- 

 mense, large petaled bloom of La France 

 pink, fading lighter. Grand. 



Grandiflora Rubra — Late. Probably 

 a variety renamed. It is a very light, 

 dull colored red. Enormous, well shaped 

 double bloom. Would rank much higher 

 were the color brighter. Good. 



Humei Carnea (Guerin) — Late. Large, 

 compact, bright pink. While this is an 

 old variety, it ranks away up in the 

 list. Good. 



Jenny Lind — Midseason. This variety 

 was one of a collection that Parsons, of 

 Long Island, sent west about the fifties. 

 Large bloom on long, strong stem ; bright 

 pink, with silvery reflex; a striking va- 

 riety.* Fine. 



Lady Derby — Midseason. Probably re- 

 named; of the largest size; pure pearly 

 white, on the strongest of stems. When 

 the 'flower finishes, it cups in th^ center. 

 Free bloomer; nothing finer. Grand. 



La Tulipe (Calot) — Midseason. Deli- 

 cate rose, shading to ivory white, with 

 center petals tipped carmine. Extra. 



L'Eclatante (Calot) — Late. Strong, 

 upright grower; double flowers of dark, 

 velvety crimson. Grand. 



L'Esperance (Calot) — Early. Fine 

 form; full, high tufted center. Color 

 bright pink. Very fragrant and free. 

 Fine. 



L 'Indispensable — Early midseason. 

 Probably renamed. Very large, cup- 

 shaped bloom, finishing with a high-built 

 center. Very delicate blush, almost white, 

 with a profusion of golden stamens show- 

 ing through the sides of the flower and 

 center; might well be called the water 

 lily peony. A strikingly beautiful va- 

 riety. Entirely dissimilar to Eugene 

 Verdier. Grand. 



Livingstone (Crousse) — Late. Very 

 full, large bloom of softest pink, over- 

 laid with white. Good bloomer; certainly 

 a prize winner. Grand. 



Mme. Crousse (Calot) — Late midsea- 

 son. Large, pure white bloom, with oc- 

 casionally a carmine spot, most flowers 

 coming pure snow-white. We believe 

 that this is the very best all-around pur- 

 pose white. Grand. 



Mme. de Verneville (Crousse) — Mid- 

 season. Pyramid-shaped center; pure 

 white, with carmine spots; one of the 

 most beautiful varieties. Extra. 



Mme. Dueel (Mechin) — Early. Enor- 

 mous and perfectly formed, compact 

 globular blooms, resembling a huge mum; 

 color brilliant silvery pink, with lightei 

 silvery reflex. Grand. 



Mme. Emile Gallee (Crousse) — Late 

 midseason. Large, cup-shaped, imbri- 

 cated flower; the color an even, delicate 

 shade of La France pink. The coloring 

 of this variety is matchless and in this 

 respect it is in a class by itself. Grand. 



Mme. Forel (Crousse) — Late midsea- 

 son. In Holland this is designated as 

 the princess of all pink peonies. Enor- 

 mous, very full, ball shaped bloom, on 

 long, strong stenis. Perfect shape; color 



