HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS 207 



ceous; the last-named section is subdivided into three groups, with 

 well marked botanical characters. The double-flowering herbaceous 

 kinds, which bloom during the latter part of May and in June, are 

 varieties of P. albiflora. There are hundreds of kinds in cultivation, 

 varying in color from white through the different shades of pink to 

 deep crimson. Their successful culture demands a deep and well- 

 manured soU, with a heavy mulching of manure during the Winter 

 and Spring months. The varieties of the European Pceonies come 

 into flower several weeks in advance of the Chinese varieties. P. 

 officinalis has double rose, red, and pinkish white forms and they 

 are earher to bloom than the P. albiflora varieties. P. paradoxa 

 fimhriata has double purple flowers. P. tenuifolia flore pleno bears 

 medium-sized double flowers, bright crimson in color. The leaves 

 of this species are of a feathery nature. It is one of the most dis- 

 tinct and handsome Paeonies in cultivation. 



There are several showy European species, some of which have 

 numerous single-flowered varieties. They all bloom much earlier 

 than the Chinese Paeonies, and are useful for the embeUishment of 

 the herbaceous border and for cutting. P. anomala blooms during 

 the first week in May; this sort is sometimes sold as P. tenuifolia. 

 The leaf divisions are fewer than in that species and broader. P. 

 arietina is the earliest species to flower, expanding in this locahty 

 by the end of April. There are about a dozen distinct varieties. 

 P. Wittmanniana is another early bloomer. Of P. officinalis and P. 

 peregrina there are numerous single-flowered varieties. 



Propagation. The herbaceous Paeonies are increased by seeds 

 and by division of the crowns. The seeds are sown as soon as ripe, 

 so that they may germinate the following Spring. They should be 

 sown in a frame, and allowed to remain for a year before transplant- 

 ing. Old plants are best divided in October; except with rare 

 kinds the divided pieces should be large. Plant deep enough to 

 make certain of the crowns being well beneath the surface. 



PAP AVER (Poppy). In the herbaceous section of this popular 

 genus P. orientale and its variety P. o. bracteatum are the most im- 

 portant kinds. There are several forms of each, varying chiefly in 

 the colors of the flowers. Most of them are of different shades of 

 scarlet, and very large. The plants, according to variety, vary in 

 height from i3^ to 3 feet. They bloom during May and June, ac- 

 cording to locality. P. nicdicaule is a choice species with orange, 

 yellow or white flowers. The double forms are often grown for cut 

 flowers. 



