P^ONY FLOWER. 
The large 
CHINESE PEONIES. 
The Chinese Pasonies are so valuable on account of their large size, beautiful coloring and 
delightful fragrance, and so entirely hardy and vigorous, that I am anxious all my customers 
should have at least a White and a 
Pink Pseony. Fragrans is one of 
the best Pink varieties, but there 
are few exhibitions that present such 
a wonderful combination of colors 
as a bed of Pseonies. The Paeonies 
are perfectly hardy, never suffering 
injury by cold, and will succeed in 
any ground, unless so wet that the 
water will lay on the surface in the 
winter and spring. They may be 
planted either in the autumn or 
spring, and are transported with 
greater safety than almost any 
plant — not one in a hundred fail- 
ing. They are also easily increased 
by division of the roots. A little 
extra attention in the way of ma- 
nure will induce a vigorous and 
rapid growth. We do not know of 
anything that injures the Pseony 
except starving in a poor soil and 
standing water during the cold sea- 
son. For large floral decorations few of our flowers can surpass the Pseonies. They seem 
designed for a grand display, without anything cheap or gaudy in their appearance. 
engraving shows a flower about 
one-half natural size, though it 
must be understood there is a 
good deal of difference in the 
formation of flowers of different 
varieties. The small cuts give a 
pretty good idea of the form and 
habit of both plant and roots, the 
drawings being taken from a full 
grown and vigorous plant the 
second season after planting. 
Such a growth must not be expected the first season, nor should flowers be looked for or desired. 
Secure first a good strong plant, and then flowers will come in abundance. Those who are so 
impatient that ihey will plant only those things that flower the first season will never be very suc- 
cessful florists. Time passes swiftly, and plants grow while we work and sleep and travel. 
VIOLETS. 
The little sweet Violet is a plant that we need not describe very particularly, for it has not 
only made itself known, but universally 
loved by its sweetness. A single flower 
will perfume a bouquet, or a room, with its 
delightful aroma. It is also perfectly hardy 
and flowers freely very early in the spring. 
The color is blue, and our engraving shows 
pretty faithfully the habit of the plant and 
the size and appearance of the flower. 
Plants may be set out either in the spring or autumn, and can be increased by division when they 
attain a large size. The Violet flowers well in the house in winter if not kept too hot and dry, 
128 
P^ONY PLANT. 
P^ONY ROOT. 
