HERBACEOUS P.EONIES. 



427 



Best Sixgle-floweked Peonies (24). 



May-flowering Species. 



1. Russi, rosy pink, dwarf, compact 



habit. 



2. Lobata (officinalis lobata = con- 



chiflora). 



3. Peregrina. 



4. Officinalis (single). 



5. Anemonreflora, golden anthers, 



lovely. 



6. Arietina, very large rose. 



7. Tenuifolia. bright, vivid crim- 



son. 



8. Triternata, very distinct in 



foliage. 



9. Decora elatior (from Southern 



Russia). 



10. Corallina (the English Paeony). 



11. Wittmanniana, pale sulphur. 



12. Sibirica. 



Single June-flowering Pceonies. 



Albiflora. 



Tartarica, splendid shape, white, 

 shaded pink. 



Whitleyi,* the largest single her- 

 baceous Paeony. 



Pottsi, semi-double, dark crimson. 



Galmi, rose. 



18. Ella. 



19. Gwendoline, pink. 



20. Xumitor, single crimson. 



21. Pantius. 



22. Tameas, deep rose. 



23. Marquis de Lory, semi-double, 

 21. Eubescens, white. 



Now as to growing Paeonies. They do well in any soil, only 

 I would say, the lighter it is, the deeper the soil needs culti 

 rating and the richer the manuring necessary. The lighter 

 also the soil, the more copious and more frequent the waterings, 

 for the Paeony when coming into bloom and during its flowering 

 season needs frequent soaking. My culture on a heavy soil ia 

 this. A piece of land in good heart is chosen ; the land is 

 trenched, or bastard trenched, a heavy dressing of manure being 

 placed just below the top spit ; the ground is allowed to 

 fallow and get somewhat weathered, when it is ready for planting. 

 November to February is the best time for planting. A plane 

 with one to three crowns makes eventually the finest clump. 

 The earth should be cleaned well from the roots, so that they 

 may be clear of all sour soil or manure, and be ready to take to 

 the fresh soil. Plant them with the crowns about three inches 

 below the surface, and leave undisturbed until the shoots appear 

 in the spring, when an occasional watering and slight summer 

 mulching will help the next year's blooms. " Art is long " in 

 planting Paeonies. The new fleshy roots have to establish them- 

 selves, so do not expect more than a very moderate, if any, 

 bloom the first year. A winter mulch of manure, to be forked in 

 in the spring, will induce a few good flowers the next year, and 

 a soaking of manure-water will increase the beauty of these few 

 flowers ; but with this treatment it is the produce of the third 

 * This is also known as P. albiflora var. Candida. — Ed. 



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