280 Account of double Herbaceous Paeonies. 



sizes more or less broken and divided, thin and delicate in 

 substance, in which point, though perhaps the only one, it is 

 superior to the Double-red officinal. Sir Abraham Hume's 

 Double Chinese Pceony has been figured by Dr. Sims in the 

 Botanical Magazine, Vol. 42, plate 1768, and there called 

 P. edulis Sinensis ; the colour of the flower is however more 

 brilliant than his artist has represented it. 



These three last mentioned plants are at present scarce, 

 and bear a high price in the nurseries around London ; they 

 are not so readily propagated as some others of the genus, 

 their roots being less capable of division ; but I have known 

 them strike freely from cuttings of the stems, which if made 

 after the flowers are past, will throw out roots, and ulti- 

 mately become good plants, though they are small and 

 weak at first. They are perfectly hardy, and seem to thrive 

 best when planted in a dry situation in good light loam, to 

 which a small portion of sand has been added. Of their 

 beauty, those only who have seen large plants in flower can 

 adequately judge ; no collection, however small, should be 

 without them, and when more common, they will be the 

 grandest ornament of the herbaceous garden in the month 

 of June. 



Believe me, my dear Sir, 



Your very sincere Friend, 



Joseph Sabine. 



North Mimms t 

 October 29th, 1816. 



P. S. Whilst the foregoing Letter was under revision for 

 the press, the friend to whom it was addressed was, by a 

 fatal accident * lost to this world. The Horticultural Society 



* He was killed near his own house on the 10th of January last by a fctt 

 from his gig. 



