368 YARD AND GARDEN 



;i (lisi)lay of later-blooming flowers is always ef- 

 fective. 



Soil for Peonies should contain no fresh ma- 

 nure. ^\11 fertilizer put into the earth where 

 they are to be esta))lislied should be at least a 

 j'-ear old and it would be better were this in- 

 corporated with the soil several months before 

 the roots are planted. Dig deeply — two feet is 

 none too much — and work the soil until it is 

 finely pulverized. Look carefully to drainage 

 and, after setting out the roots, mulch thickly 

 with three or four inches of coarse manure, 

 spading this in before growth starts in the fol- 

 lowing spring. Peonies should be planted in 

 September, and if quick effects ai-e wanted, un- 

 divided clumps should be obtained. Single 

 roots, however, are cheaper, and in a season or 

 two, make a very satisfactory display. In or- 

 dering roots, do not be insistent on the number 

 of "eyes," for often the purchaser in designat- 

 ing that the roots he orders are to show no 

 fewer than three "eyes," sacrifices vigor and 

 quality for quantity. 



Do not exi^ect much l)loom the first season 

 after planting. Peonies take time in establish- 

 ing themselves and not infrequently fail to 

 bloom for two years after they are set out. Or, 



