HISTOEY OF THE P^ONY PLANT IN CHINA AND JAPAN. Ill 
kind of dirt is used as manure ; which, being deposited around the roots, gives a favourable 
result ; also the ashes from burned fowl-dung, when buried under ground for three months, 
and then deposited around the roots in small quantities, proves excellent- Dirt, not well- 
rotten, liquid manure, and urine, he disapproves of, particularly for red-blooming sorts, as 
the evaporation of salt, which originates therefrom, makes the flowers discolour. 
Cleaning of the Plants. — It is the custom in Japan to clean the stems of the plants 
after the leaves have dropped, and when the rainy season commences, the moss, being apt to 
settle along the stems, is removed by the use of some kind of spoon made of willow-wood ; 
such being done, the stem is neatly rubbed with a piece of linen containing well-bruised 
Camellia-fruit, in order that the oily matter therefrom, penetrating the linen, may give a 
glistening appearance to the outer skin. During this performance, care should be taken 
not to move the roots about ; and it should not be often repeated, as such might injure 
the plant. 
The Winter-covering. — The beds where Pgeonies are planted, are covered with stable- 
straw or horsedung, to protect the roots against the severity of the season, and the stems 
are covered with mats ; both protections should, however, be removed at the commence- 
ment of the 2nd month before the mildness of the season sets in. Ito Ifei also advises 
to cover the bed with horsedung, but disapproves of the covering with mats, which he states, 
often causes the stem to wither in the spring following ; or weakens the flower-buds so 
much, that they easily drop off. 
The Rain and Sun-covering. — The custom to cover the Pssony flowers with an oil- 
papered frame, has its harm as well as its advantage ; it appears very advantageous to 
expose the flowers fully to the morning sun, and the cover should, at that time of day, be 
always removed ; but again, it appears that the flowers suffer from the sun not bestowing 
its heat upon them quite pure, but always mixed with the evaporated oil-damp. Every 
individual amateur should take these two facts into consideration, and judge for himself 
which is to be preferred; it, at all events, is quite clear that all sort of covering is 
injurious, unless a longer duration of floral beauty be wished for. After the advice 
of Ito Ifei, the Pseony bed ought to be covered with straw mats during the blooming 
season, which should be replaced with light boards, in case rain falls. Oiled paper he at 
all times disapproves of. 
The Winter-manuring. — Somewhat before or about the middle of winter (21st or 23rd 
of December), the soil is carefully dug out round about the roots, and a quantity of 
powder composed of sulphur and drupstone,^ of equal portions, is strewed about them, 
and the roots are again covered with the old soil. This performance is said to 
produce a more perfect development of the flowers. According to Ito Ifei, the Pseony 
plants should be manured twice a year, and no more ; for if over-manured, they get a 
sickly appearance, and the flower-buds rot and drop before they have attained sufficient 
power to develope. 
Treatment of Sickly and Tender Plants. — Sickly and tender plants should have little 
or no manure, but should occasionally receive a sparing supply of rain-water, which must 
have been exposed to the heat of the sun previous to use, for twenty-four hours, and mixed 
with a little urine. All plants rather backward in growth should not be manured ; but 
should be planted in a rather rich clay. Should the soil of itself prove already rich, it 
must be observed that no manure is wanted, neither should, in that case, any rape-seed 
be applied. 
Removal of Vermin. — To protect the roots from the attack of worms, a powder from 
Pih Veen f roots may be mixed with the soil ; the holes which they leave behind should be 
filled up with sulphur, and should afterwards be shut up with pins made of Cypress wood. 
The rain-worm is easily removed by occasionally applying a little urine and water about 
the roots. If a worm has settled within the stem, the latter may be placed on one side 
* The drupstone from Satsuma is considered the best. The drupstone is a congealing of the stone-sweat, met with in 
grottos, from the upper part of which it hangs off like icicles.— The " Jap. Conversations Lexicon," "Fak buts zen,'' p. 314, 
under " Sjd niu seki." 
t Pih leen. 
Jap. Bjakren ("Jap. Enc") Nitis pentaphylla, Thunb. 
