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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
THE VALUE OF PEONIES. 
'X'HESE, the most gorgeous of all hardy herbaceous 
flowers, are also the most neglected by modern 
gardeners. It may be that their robtistness and bril- 
liancy are their undoing, for nobody would grudge 
them the space they require while in their full glory of 
gorgeous blossoming, but when the flowers have fallen, 
and the foliage begins to ripen, past favors are soon for- 
gotten in the presence of a large break in the floral 
scheme. This objection can easily be overcome by intel- 
ligent anticipation in preparing summer and autumn- 
flowering plants to place around the pxony clumps, to 
furnish the positions for the remainder of the season. 
For this purpose no plants are more suitable than An- 
tirrhinums, which, as they thrive in dry and poor soils, 
will not necessitate mtich root disturbance of the 
pseonies. These remarks apply to the herbaceous 
pjeonies, chiefly to the wonderful h^^brids raised bv 
crossing the European and Chinese species. As the 
season of the former is May and the latter ustially 
throughout June and well into July, the union has in- 
creased the season of the pseony to a great extent. 
But although the natural place of the herbaceous 
paeony would seem to be in the flower border, this is 
by no means the only^ part of the garden which may be 
brightened by their use. No one can be a greater ad- 
mirer than myself of the glorious masses of color given 
by the double red varieties which have much of 
Paeonia ofHcinalis in them, nor of the more delicate 
charm of many of P. albiflora parentage, but all of these 
can be even more effective elsewhere. During the sea- 
son of flower, herbaceous paeonies planted either as a 
mass of one variety, or in tasteful mixture in a large 
lawn bed, make a splendid attraction, but this method 
makes difficulties for the rest of the year. For the 
most part this may be overcome by associating them 
with standard Pyruses or peaches, and carpeting and 
bordering them with Violas. On the margin of the 
lawn, or where garden and woodland meet, bold 
groups, though they should not be too large, of the 
brightest-colored varieties, are exceedingly attractive, 
and in such positions need cause no anxiety when not 
in flower. The ample foliage, bold habit, and showy 
blossoms of man}- varieties, make herbaceous preonies 
eminently suitable for planting in the shrubbery bor- 
ders or near the carriage drive. 
The herbaceous pasony is deserving of much more 
attention in wild gardening than it at present re- 
ceives. Pjeonia ofificinalis is particularly valuable, 
as at the first approach of spring the ground is 
brightened by the beautiful red shoots, which retain their 
welcome coloring until the flower buds become prominent. 
P. lobata, said to be merely a variety of P. officinalis, of 
lovely satiny-pink color; P. tenuifolia, which has the 
charm of graceful fennel-like leaves in addition to 
dark crimson flowers ; or P. albiflora, the (Oriental 
species from which many hybrids get their erect habit, 
are a few of the most useful sorts. 
Unlike the herbaceous paeonies, which may be 
planted in shady places, in full expectation that they 
will flourish there, Psconia Moutan must have a place 
in the sun if it is expected to thrive, though both types 
are alike in loving the good things of the soil, and 
should have liberal treatment. While they are some- 
what impatient of root disturbance, the herbaceous 
sorts may be relied upon to soon make a good show, 
but the tree Paeony is of slower growth, and requires 
several years before much efifect is produced. In the 
garden Paeonia Moutan and its many splendid varieties 
are seen at their best as lawn plants where they receive 
plenty of sunshine, but shelter from easterly winds is 
necessary. If young plants are being used, an efifect 
is obtained soonest when three or five are planted mod- 
erately near together in the same bed. Although it is 
a shrub, the Moutan paeony is not suitable for culture 
in the shrubbery ; it requires isolation. — Gardener's Mag- 
aciiw. ( English I . 
THOSE WHO WORK IN GARDENS. 
ILJ OW strong they become who work in gardens, for 
the sheer love of it ! 
They are always learning, loving, seeking to under- 
stand and to utilize. 
They foster the beloved weak and fight the inimical 
strong. s 'W^ , r 
They root out the fulness which is a fault and fill the 
emptiness that cries for more. 
They are able to beget and breed beauty. 
Those who work in gardens plant other things than 
seeds and bulbs, tubers and cuttings. They plant hope 
and faith and love. . 
They gather in more than crisp vegetables, lucent 
fruits and flushed flowers, for they gather hardihood and 
health and a rich fulfillment. 
Having planted according to the law, they expect ger- 
mination according to the law, and the flower and the 
perfect fruit. They do not worry lest what ought to be 
will not be. They have the confidence of seers, where- 
fore they are seldom disappointed. 
Those who work in gardens work in the laboratory of 
life. They know as much as any one of its coming and 
its going; and far more do they know, than most of us, 
of its growing and striving, fighting, winning, blossom- 
ing, becoming and being. They see many meanings un- 
intelligible to others. 
God has given into their hands a book of secrets. 
As they press the earth with kindly hands they smile 
inscrutably, and the earth yields up her smiling strength 
as their reward. 
In a garden there is as much chance for self-expression 
as in any art, if only the soul of the gardener be free of a 
money bond. 
For a garden may be compact enough to reveal the 
careful soul, whimsical enough to show the dreamer, 
stately for the proud, homelike for the hearth-lover, fra- 
grant for the serenely religious. The variety is endless. 
The combinations cannot be counted. 
But always, those who work in gardens, make them, 
in something, like themselves. 
And there is in a garden as great a chance for altruism 
as in any philanthropy. 
The sick of soul will lag beside a sloping lawn, or un- 
der the generous, shade-bestowing tree. The weary of 
heart can find a bit of peace in benevolent arbors, or in 
bowers of friendly shrubbery. The poor can forget their 
debts for a space while they watch bewitching poppies 
nodding to each other. And are there not a few con- 
victs who would be gentler with their arms full of roses? 
How natural it is that those who work in gardens 
should be strong. They are very close to the heart of 
life. Perhaps, also, the}' are close to God ! 
M. O. B. Wilkinson. 
