THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
377 
to the interior. While, as previously stated, little trees 
for reforestation are generally advisable, it is obvious 
that an owner may, if expense is no object, use nursery 
grown specimens of any size desirable, for the purpose of 
creating special and immediate effects at any point ; 
always bearing in mind in this connection the possibility 
that watering may be necessary to keep these kind 
of trees alive until such time as they become es- 
tablished. 
In addition to the details as seen close at hand the gen- 
eral aspect of the forest as viewed from a greater or less 
distance should be planned with regard to the landscape 
effects at all seasons. 
With regard to the cost of work along these lines the 
conditions and circumstances connected with pleasure 
estates differ very considerably, but the writer's experi- 
ence may be worth mentioning, which has been that a 
considerable amount of forestry work can be yearly car- 
ried out with little or no increase in the overhead charges 
(other than the cost of material) necessary for the up- 
keep of the gardens. 
The landscape possibilities in connection with forestry 
are practically inexhaustible, and we have only briefly 
sketched out some of the general lines of the work. But 
it is hoped that sufficient has been said to show that the 
woodlands mav be lifted out of the region of the common- 
place and that something beautiful and interesting may 
be seen and studied in them at any time of the year ; 
thereby adding in no small measure to the pleasures of a 
country estate. At the same time the foundation can be 
laid for a yearly increase in the intrinsic value of the 
demesne by producing valuable timber. 
Herbaceous Paeonies 
P^EONIES may be planted on a lavish scale, and few, 
comparatively, by reason of size or peculiar situa- 
tion, from which they need be excluded altogether. 
Hence in large measure they may be accounted indispens- 
able — good enough, indeed, for all whose gardening is 
chiefly, or entirely, confined to the open air. Hardiest of 
the hardy so far as the plant's roots are concerned, and 
suffering but rarely as the result of late spring frosts, the 
gardener is wont to regard them as the most reliable of 
his subjects, a never-failing source of flower beauty in 
June and July, once they have become well established. 
And not at flower-time only. With each recurring spring 
there is presented the rich eft'ect of crimson stems and 
leaves, as brilliant as the Scarlet Dogwood under a 
winter's sim, and just as good as the picture. Later they 
impress by fine leaf development and stately habit ; anon, 
at flower-time, by chaste or brilliant coloring or the un- 
equalled fragrance of not a few. 
For the reasons already given, the young Pseony 
growth in spring associates well with the stronger- 
growing Narcissi, and, while affording pleasing harmony 
or striking contrast when thus grown, also enhances the 
beauty or interest of some particular spot for a longer 
time than usual. Adjacent to groups of white-flowered 
shrubs, the more brilliant would be in striking contrast. 
Conversely, white or light-colored sorts would have a 
telling effect in the vicinity of dark-leaved shrubs, each 
in turn mirroring the other into fuller life and beauty. 
In this way many a shrub border may be illumined; and 
if sparkling with Snowdrop, Squill, Anemone, Cyclamen 
and the like at other seasons, so much the better. In dis- 
tricts where the ill-effects of frosts are more frequently 
felt, the greater danger from frost arises when the 
flower buds of the P?eony are about the size of Peas — 
the nascent or petal-forming period. In the main, how- 
ever, the plants are safe in any ojien position, and only 
rarelv indeed does a complete collection suffer. 
It is important here to recognize that the Pjeony is a 
deep-rooting subject, sending down its thong-like roots 
to a depth of three feet or more into well-cultivated soils ; 
hence to attain perfection the soil should be deeply 
trenched. Manv soils will not, it is true, allow of trench- 
ing three feet deep, though the most should be done in 
every case. Remembering, too, that when once well 
planted they made be left for a decade without showing 
any declining vigor, they merit being well done. Gross- 
feeding subjects, too, the ground should be heavily ma- 
nured. In these two directions no one is likely to err on 
the side of generosity. As to soil, Pseony is not fas- 
tidious, and while disliking the coldest and heaviest clay 
soils, may be well cultivated in the majority outside these. 
In loams of medium texture they establish themselves 
more quickly ; in heavier soils they longer endure. For 
very light, sandy soils, cow manure alone should be em- 
ployed, for its cooling nature rather than for its high 
manurial value. For the rest, good stable manure will 
suffice. In addition, established beds or groups are 
greatly benefited by copious applications of liquid ma- 
nure in autumn and winter, when root activity is con- 
siderable. 
The best period of the whole year is September and 
October. The weeks immediately succeeding, and while 
the plants' crowns remain dormant, may be regarded a 
good second best. The worst period for planting is the 
early spring months when growth has already begun, and 
the fact cannot too strongly be emphasized. Planting at 
that time has caused much disappointment in the past ; 
its weakening effects upon the plants directly responsible 
for their slow recovery. In this connection the correct 
test of all such work is the quick return of the subject to 
a good representative flowering. Conversely, incorrect 
work may be readily gauged by slow recovery and by 
the debilitated condition of the plants. 
The best type of plant to start with is a youthful one of 
three to five stout crowns. The planting of big clumps 
intact is a mistake ; indeed, nothing is more fatal to suc- 
cess. By periodical division of the subject the Pseony 
specialist is enabled to supply examples that generally 
give satisfaction. Rooting afresh from the base of the 
crown buds, it is important that the crowns be buried 
about two inches deep. In group planting, the indi- 
viduals should be rather thinly disposed — a yard apart 
each way or even more would not be too much — since 
leaf development is considerable and progressive v^-ith 
}'ears. In this way a couple of dozen plants of a variety 
would form a goodly colony. On a smaller scale in the 
border, groups of three or five answer well, and, of 
course, there are many instances where solitary examples 
only could be recommended. — Exchange. 
