LEAMON G. TINGLE, PITTSVILLE, MD. 



Cultural Instructions 



The Peony is one of the easiest flowers to grow j 

 that I know of. It is exempt from insect pests, as ! 

 hardy as any plant that grows, and after the first : 

 year does not need any mulching or protection of any j 

 kind. It is sometimes well to cover with some coarse 

 straw or other material the first winter to keep the 

 roots from "freezing out" out of ground. This will 

 not be necessary after the first winter as they will 

 have become established so there will be no danger 

 of them "freezing out." 



You leave them in the ground all winter and do 

 not dig until you want to transplant them somewhere 

 else. During summer keep the ground well worked 

 around them and manure with bone meal, ashes or 

 rotten barnyard manure but do not put too close 

 to the plant; the best way is to work it well in the 

 soil a little distance from the plant. 



Any good garden soil is good for peonies but 

 do not plant in low, wet soil or in light, sandy soil, 

 and do not use any fresh manure near the plant 

 when setting, or for that matter at any time. 



In planting see that the eyes are about two 

 inches below the level of the surface of the soil. 

 Remember, too deep planting is one main causes of 

 shy blooming. And, do not expect a full crop of 

 blooms the first year. If properly planted you will 

 have some flowers the first year but you must give 

 the plants time to make new roots and become 

 established before you can expect a normal crop of 

 flowers. And another thing to remember: always 

 leave at least two or three leaves on the stalk 

 when you cut the bloom. This helps the plant store 

 up strength to produce another crop of blooms. 



