36 



PAXTON'S FLOWER GARDEN. 



" In the beginning of October, large quantities of the roots of a herbaceous Paeony* are 

 seen heaped up in sheds and other outhouses, and are intended to be used as stocks for the 

 Moutan. The bundle of tubers which forms the root of a herbaceous Pasony is pulled to 

 pieces, and each of the finger-like rootlets forms a stock upon which the Moutan is destined 

 to be grafted. Having thrown a large number of these rootlets upon the potting-bench, the 

 scions are then brought from the plants which it is desirable to increase. Each scion used 

 is not more than an inch and a half or two inches in length, and is the point of a shoot 

 formed during the bygone summer. Its base is cut in the form of a wedge, and inserted in 

 the crown of the finger-like tuber just noticed. This is tied up or clayed round in the usual 

 way, and the operation is completed. When a large number of plants have been prepared in 

 this manner they are taken to the nursery, where they are planted in rows about a foot and 

 a half apart, and the same distance between the rows. In planting, the bud or point of the 

 scion is the only part which is left above ground; the point between the stock and the scion, 

 where the union is destined to take place, is always buried beneath the surface. Kampfer 

 states that the Chinese propagate the Moutan by budding; but this must have been a 

 mistake, as budding is never practised in the country, and is not understood. He was 

 probably deceived by the small portion of scion which is employed, and which generally has 

 only a single bud at its apex. 



"Many thousands of plants are grafted in this manner every autumn, and the few 

 vacant spaces that one sees in the rows attest the success which attends the system; indeed, it 

 is rare that a graft fails to grow. In about a fortnight the union between the root and the 

 scion is complete, and in the following spring the plants are well established and strong. 

 They frequently bloom the first spring, and are rarely later than the second, when they are 

 dug up and taken to the markets for sale in the manner I have described. "When each has 

 only one stem and one flower-bud, it is of more value in the eyes of the Shanghae nursery- 

 man than when it becomes larger. In this state it is more saleable ; it produces a very 

 large flower, and it is easily dug up and carried to the market. I could always buy large 

 plants at a cheaper rate than small ones, owing to these circumstances. 



a In the gardens of the mandarins it is not unusual to meet with the tree Peeony of 

 great size. There was one plant near - Shanghae which produced between three and four 

 hundred blooms every year. The proprietor of it was as careful of it as the Tulip fancier is 

 of his bed of Tulips. When in bloom it was carefully shaded from the bright rays of the 

 sun by a canvas awning, and a seat was placed in front, on which the visitor could sit down 

 and enjoy the sight of its gorgeous flowers/" 



* A variety with small single flowers. 



