PERENNIALS AND CALIFORNIA BULBS 31 
son they are fine This difficulty can be overcome by planting the bed where there is 
fdZkSdty m ° St ° r ^ " POSiti ° n that is Sha5ed heavil y from i 2 to 4 
The plants demand a deep well-prepared bed. If the soil is dug over to a depth 
of 3 feet and manure ,s worked in, the trouble will be well repaid, for when we plant 
Peonies they last many years. They improve season after season/and at she or e gh 
years are simply grand if the rootmg-space was well prepared. During their growing 
and flowering season liberal watering is demanded, but after that very little is neces- 
sary. 1 he first year s bloom is comparatively poor, no matter how good the plants 
r^l\?n mS l M t] r CrOW ? S u (buds) ° ver 3 in ches deep. Every winir the 
Peony bed should have a hberaf coat of half-rotted manure. Give them all the atten- 
tion you can. 
Peonies are lime-lovers, and a dressing of lime when the bed is made will not be amiss. 
Apply at the rate of 5 pounds to the 100 square feet when preparing the bed, and if this 
is repeated every third year it will be better. If air-slaked lime is used it may be 
spread out at once, but if builder's lime only is available, put in little heaps on the soil, 
and leave long enough to air-slake before spreading. 
Quality ?f Roots. My location is wonderfully adapted to the culture of the Peony 
and 1 doubt it finer flowers are grown anywhere. I try to have fine I- or 2-year-old un- 
divided roots to send out. These would have from 2 to 4 eyes and are verv fine If I 
have to send divided roots they are strong. 
_ Any one wishing large 3- to 4-year-old roots can have them at double the price. 
It is not desirable to have over 6 eyes when planting. In comparing my prices with eastern 
dealers, kindly remember that good Peony roots are both bulky and weighty and at a 
cost ot at least 8 cents per pound for expressage, there is a marked difference, consider- 
ing that I deliver free. 
Peonies are divided into classes according to the arrangement and number of petals. 
burst, there are the single flowers, then the semi-doubles. When stamens are changed to 
petals, we have the Bomb type, in which the outer or guard-petals are different from the 
others. 1 hen, when the pistils in the center of the flower begin to change to petals, there 
are o ten three distinct sorts of petals, first the outer or guard petals, then shorter petals 
in a dense mass, then a few very tall petals in the middle. This is called the Crown type. 
In the Rose type all of the parts are changed to almost or quite uniform petals, like a rose. 
It not quite full it is called a Semi-rose. If the reader can keep the forms in mind he will 
be able to_ better picture the varieties described. 
My list of Peonies is a select one, with at least three-fourths of the most highly 
recommended sorts. There are many hundreds of Peonies, with many inferior, and a 
short first-class list has its advantages. 
Tv/r-n B ° Ul . e de Nei S e > or Bal1 of Snow > is a ver y lar £ e globular, full flower of the rose type. 
Milky white but the center flaked with crimson. Tall and midseason. 50 cts. each. 
Candidissima is a superb sort, rose type, very full with pure white guards and a 
sulphur center tinted green. Very fragrant and late; tall. 50 cts. each. 
Carnea elegans has a perfect rose type flower, with broad petals of a clear flesh- 
color. Fall and midseason. $1 each. 
Charles Toche is of a globular rose type of fair size; early; clear violet-rose, a most 
exquisite shade. The plant is rather dwarf but free flowering. 75 cts. each. 
Comte de Paris is a very well-marked crown type, with the three very distinct sorts 
of petals. The guards are a light pink and so is the center, while the medium petals are 
creamy. Rather low-growing, with very stout stem; a strong grower; quite fragrant. 
Midseason. 50 cts. each. 
Couronne d'Or is of the semi-rose type, large and flat. The petals are pure white 
with a ring of yellow stamens around the center petals, tipped carmine. Medium tall 
and a fine grower. Late. One of the best whites. 75 cts. each. 
Delicatissima is of the rose type and a pale lilac-rose, creamy white stamens showing. 
Very strong; fragrant. A fine midseason variety. 50 cts. 
Duchess of Teck is a brilliant rose-colored Peony of the rose type, the back of 
the petals fiery, edges of petals changing to silvery white. $1 each. 
Duchesse de Nemours is a pure white of the crown type with a sulphur-white collar. 
It is of medium height, with a tea-rose fragrance, and early. 50 cts. each. 
Duchesse d'Orleans is of the bomb type, large and full. The guards are deep 
pink (solferino-red); fragrant. It is extra strong and tall. Midseason. 25 cts. each. 
Due de Wellington is a very large bomb type Peony, with white guard petals and 
sulphur center; very fragrant; tall. A vigorous grower and a very fine variety. 50 cts. ea. 
