September, 1912 
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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
SB WS DA EAI OS SIE ELE Sa 
One of the chief attractions of the Peony lies in its wealth of beautiful foliage throughout the season 
The Peony 
By Gardner Teall 
Photographs by Nathan R. Graves 
saa] HE beautiful hardy perennial, the herbaceous 
4y44|| Peony, is one of the incomparable flowers 
<4|| which the old-fashioned garden has handed 
down with tender care to the appreciative 
garden-maker of to-day. There is not, in 
the whole realm of Flora, a plant combin- 
ing a greater variety of garden advantages. Peonies are 
hardy and need little care, their color is exquisite and runs 
from the snow-white of the Festiva Maxima variety, illus- 
trated at the bottom of page 325, through the ivory and 
cream tints of such varieties as the ‘‘Duke of Wellington,” 
the “Amazone” or the “Couronne d’Or”’ to the velvety red 
of the “Auguste Lemonnier,” with hundreds of intermediary 
tints and even deeper colorings than the last named variety 
as we find in the blossoms of the “‘Constant Devred,”’ a fine 
variety bearing soft, clear purple blossoms which are imbri- 
cated like a Rose and which are very fragrant. 
Herbaceous Peonies might well be described as hardy as 
an oak plant, for they withstand the most severe climates 
and sudden climatic changes, and seem to increase in vigor 
each succeeding year of their growth, being remarkably 
free, as well, from all plant diseases and from insects as 
well. It flowers early in June, and September is the proper 
month for setting out new plants. In preparing for the 
planting one should bear in mind the fact that the soil 
should be free from the application of fresh manurial fer- 
tilizer. Old manure that has stood for at least ten months 
may be employed, but even then it would be better if this 
were turned over with the soil in the spot where the Peonies 
are to be planted some time before they are actually set out. 
One of the most frequent faults in Peony culture, with 
those who have had little planting experience, lies in their 
not preparing the soil by digging it to a depth of fully two 
feet, working it into a fine condition of pulverization. Again 
the drainage conditions of the soil should be taken into 
consideration, just as they should in setting out other her- 
baceous species. 
In ordering plants for September setting, it is worth re- 
membering that if early effects are desired, clumps of undi- 
vided roots should be specified, though of course single 
roots are far less expensive, and where one is willing to 
bide the time, they will, in the course of a few seasons, 
produce fine clumps by re-multiplying. Peonies, sturdy grow- 
ers though they are, need some humoring for the first sea- 
son. They take their own time in establishing themselves, 
as though they were conscious of their supremacy and their 
dignity did not find rushing into gorgeous array compatable 
with their station in Nature’s court. Indeed, it often hap- 
pens that they do not bloom at all the first year after they 
are set out, and not infrequently also miss the second year. 
But one must not be discouraged, and we ought to remem- 
ber that the reward for our patience in the future of these 
