Plant Better Peonies This Year— By James McLaughlin, 



Ohio 



THEY that can recall the enthu- 

 siasm of their grandmothers over 

 the old garden "pineys" may 

 well imagine the raptures that 

 would be if those old people were brought 

 into contact with the splendid peonies of 

 to-day. The old-fashioned "piney" was 

 medium of size, red of color and early of 

 bloom. In 1855 there was a choice of 

 some two dozen varieties ; to-day more than 

 a thousand names appear and fully 75% 

 of these are more or less distinct ! 



Not being particular as to soil or loca- 

 tion, no class of plants is better adapted to 

 general use. Planted singly upon the lawn, 

 in masses by themselves, or banked in front 

 of shrubbery, they never fail in added 

 beauty and attraction. And when once 

 put in the ground, if properly cared for, 

 they will thrive for twenty years. 



In fact the peony is among the most 

 hardy, most showy, and most easily grown 

 of all the garden plants, possessing some 

 fragrance and a host of delicate tints. 



MERITORIOUS VARIETIES 



Science working hand-in-hand with 

 mother Nature, compels the excellences of 

 to-day to capitulate to the triumphs of 



to-morrow! Hence, however partial to 

 certain sorts, we must admit that — with 

 few exceptions — the peonies of six or seven 

 years ago are not the best ones of the pres- 

 ent. When we speak of exceptions, that 

 grand old variety Festiva Maxima, comes 

 to mind. The following list will be found 

 to contain peonies of especial merit — ones 

 well worth a trial. 



Allowing the celebreated Festiva Maxima 

 to head the whites, another prizetaker — 

 Marie Lemoine — suggests itself as a worthy 

 companion. This variety is rather dwarf 

 and blooms late. The petals are tinged 

 with chamois making the flowers singularly 

 attractive. Duke of Wellington, with large 

 cones of creamy white, is well worth a place 

 in any collection, as is the delightfully fra- 

 grant Mt. Blanc, noted for its immense and 

 lasting blooms. Eugene Verdier is a splen- 

 did cutting sort, its clear white being 

 slightly suffused with shell pink. Duchess 

 de Nemours — perhaps the most nearly 

 perfect white variety — justly famed for 

 its full and abundant flowers, is consid- 

 ered one of the best peonies in culti- 

 vation. Couronne d'Or, a late bloomer, 

 and Candidissima are also entitled to a 

 place in this galaxy of favorites. 



In the long list of 

 pink shades abound 

 some of the finest 

 peonies in existence. 

 EdulisSuperba, bright 

 rose pink in color, 

 with large, fluffy 

 flowers, Madame Ca- 

 lot, M. Jules Elie, 

 Claire Dubois, and 

 Lamartine all of 

 marked superiority, 

 are leaders in this 

 particular shade. 

 Albert Crousse, edged 

 with creamy white, a 

 choice late bloomer ; 

 Madame Forel always 

 beautiful; Faust, still 

 retaining its well- 

 earned popularity; 

 and Georgiana Shay- 

 lor and Mme. Barillet 

 Deschamps, occupy 

 high places among the 

 lighter shades of pink. 

 The red or crimson 

 section, whose deep 

 colored members re- 

 mind one so much of 

 the Hybrid Perpetual 

 roses, are represented 

 best by Felix Crousse, 

 Marshal McMahon, 

 both of which are 

 double, late flowering 

 sorts, Pierre Dessert, 

 Cherry Hill, Plutarch, 

 Decandolle and 

 Adolphe Rosseau, all 

 having superb indi- 

 vidual merits. 



Many fine peonies, 

 due to their own pe- 



40 



culiar shadings will not permit of classifica- 

 tion in these color groupings. Reference 

 is had to such sorts as Delachi, deep purple, 

 Delicatissima, pale lilac, Lady Bramwell, 

 silver rose, La Rosiere yellowish white, and 

 to many other well known varieties of ster- 

 ling merit. 



WHEN AND WHERE TO PLANT 



In the latitude of New York the ideal 

 time for planting is September and October. 

 And too much emphasis can not be placed 

 upon the importance of securing the best 

 obtainable roots. If planting for the pur- 

 pose of dividing and selling the roots, they 

 should be put about three feet apart, but if 

 future flowers be the object, then four feet 

 apart each way is little enough room. The 

 crowns should be set about two inches be- 

 low the surface, the roots being spread in 

 natural position and the ground about 

 firmed carefully. While perfectly hardy, 

 a light application of manure before severe 

 weather sets in is of benefit. 



Peonies do well in practically all soils; 

 but a deep, rich, moist loam is best. If 

 flowers are desired, a stiff clay subsoil is of 

 importance, while for rapid root formation 

 a light loam is more favorable. As the 

 peony usually remains in the chosen loca- 

 tion for years, future disappointments can 

 be avoided by deep and thorough prepara- 

 tion of the beds. Being gross feeders, 

 ample fertility is required, and this is best 

 supplied by working in liberal quantities 

 of rich cow manure, the presence of which 

 will cause a vigorous constitutional growth. 



Too much should not be expected of them 

 the first year, as they are quite slow in get- 

 ting established. The first season, during 

 protracted dry spells, peonies usually suffer, 

 but this can be avoided by use of the garden 

 hose. They are rarely attacked by insects 

 or fungous diseases. As the bush grows it 

 is advisable to provide a light wire support 

 which assists in the formation of a shapely 

 and erect growth. Keeping the beds well 

 tilled and free from weeds is not to be neg- 

 lected. If large, specimen flowers are de- 

 sired, the smaller buds should be removed; 

 but if later and smaller blooms are wanted, 

 the smaller and backward ones should be 

 retained. When the blooming period is 

 over the flowering stalks should be cut out 

 at the ground. 



PROPAGATION OF ROOTS 



Propagation of peonies is done by divi- 

 sion of the roots at any time from August 

 until spring, but the best time for this opera- 

 tion is in the early fall, when new rootlets 

 form before frost sets in. New varieties 

 are obtained from sowing seed which is gath- 

 ered when ripe and kept moist until sown, 

 in November. A mulch must be applied 

 for protection during the first winter. Pro- 

 pagation by this method is very tedious as 

 two years are required for the seed to germi- 

 nate and three more before good blooms 

 can be expected, and then the result 

 is but lottery — hundreds of blanks to 

 one that may seem worth further con- 

 sideration. 



