September, 1912 
sons. I have known gardens ablaze in color with an infinite 
number of wonderful Peony blossoms right in the midst of 
a season that has been hard on all other flowering plants, 
and which, in a season of apparently the most favorable 
weather conditions, produced but few blossoms, though the 
next year these same plants burst forth again in all their 
glory. In connection with this phase of Peony culture, it 
should be remarked that the English varieties of Peonies 
sometimes imported seldom thrive as well in the climate of 
America as they do in their own environment. Therefore 
it would be better to avoid such varieties unless one wished 
to experiment. 
As to the various distinct sorts of Peonies, from the point 
of their habits of growth, there is the Shrubby species, with 
one representative—Ponia Monton, called the Tree Peony; 
the Single or ‘““Anemone”’ Peonies, such as the “Sunbeam”’ 
and the ‘‘Otto Froebel”’ varieties, and the Double or “‘Rose”’ 
and ‘‘Crown’”’ types of Peonies, such as the Festiva Maxi- 
ma, “Golden Harvest” and the Rubra Superba, with the 
intermediate or Japanese Peonies—single varieties just be- 
ginning to double. ~The Bomb varieties are those sorts 
which show still further doubling. 
When planting Peonies the crowns of the stock should be 
placed some two inches below the surface of the soil. As 
suggested in a paragraph elsewhere in this article, the fer- 
tilizer used in the beds should be well-rotted. Peonies are 
gross feeders and the ground in which they are planted 
should be well tilled. A top- -dressing placed upon the plants 
in November, and forked into the beds the following Spring, 
will be of much help in encouraging growth. Peonies appre- 
ciate a generous amount of water, especially in the period 
of their bloom. When dividing clumps the division will 
é 
i 
a 
KEEN eS aioe 
ms et ie a ht SN baa hice ath 
AMERICAN HOMES 
AND GARDENS 
A Peony that has learned the trick of perfect bloom 
be determined by the number of Tubers with eyes. There 
should be as many divisions as there are eyes to the Tubers. 
Tubers without eyes may also be planted, as they often shoot 
forth after a couple of years. As Peonies, when dormant, 
stand the exposure during shipment and storage remark- 
Many varieties of the Peony possess a delightful a geee that lends a Pachent: pertuine to ais garden 
