5()S 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
of the vine, the condition of the soil, and the distance 
apart the vines arc planted, all factors that must be 
decided by the operator. A bearing shoot has its clus- 
ters near the base ; beyond this the shoot grows into a 
leafy cane. An average of two clusters to a shoot is 
a fair estimate. Thus if a vine is considered strong 
enough to bear 60 clusters, 30 good buds may be allowed 
when the annual pruning is done. 
'When the year old wood is sending out its bearing 
shoots, other shoots will arise from or in close proximity 
to the old stem, which should be preserved for bearing 
wood another season. 
To sum up the general principle of pruning outdoor 
-rape vines is to provide for a renewal of wood each 
season, no matter what system is practised. 
THE PEONY. 
TTWFRY one loves the Peony. Those who can re- 
call the enthusiasm of their grandmothers over the 
old garden "Pineys" may well imagine the raptures of 
those old people were they to be brought in contact 
with the splendid Peonies of today. The old-fashioned 
Piney, Peony Officinalis, a native of Southern Europe, 
is rich in color, but of small size, fleeting duration and 
offensive odor. The early history of this Peony extends 
back many centuries, intricately woven into a haze of 
superstition, allegory and myth. 
In China, it is said, the Tree Peony has been their 
chief pride and glory for 1400 years, prized by their 
emperors for the beauty and fragrance of the flowers and 
for more than a thousand years a record of the new 
introductions, their characters, qualities and parentage 
has been kept. 
The Japanese, too, are largely instrumental in produc- 
ing our finest varieties of Tree Peonies, of which there 
are now a dozen or more choice varieties offered for sale. 
The blooms are large and keep well either on the plant 
or when cut and placed in water. They should be grown 
more extensively. They can be propagated from soft 
wood cutting but because of their slow growth they are 
usually grafted. Great care must be taken that shoots 
do not develop from the roots when grafted plants are 
used, lest the variety be lost and only a wild variety take 
its place. 
The modern Peony of today or Peony Sinensis, the 
species we have before us tonight, the most popular, has 
onlv been cultivated in Europe a little more than a half 
century. It is descended from Peony Albiflora, a native 
of Siberia. 
The modern Peony is an aristocrat whose birth was 
among the nobility of France, for it was under the care 
of M. Jacques, gardener for King Louis Philippe, that 
some of the first of the fine varieties of today were 
originated. There were also Compte de Cussy, the Prince 
De Salm Dyck, and Modeste Guerin, all enthusiastic 
amateurs who secured the best varieties from Japan and 
China about the middle of the last century, and from 
these began to raise seedlings that have given us some 
of our present magnificent varieties. 
Another enthusiastic French amateur was M. Nechin, 
whose grandson, M. A. Dessert, succeeds him, and is 
considered one of the greatest living authorities on 
Peonies. 
In America, three amateurs have been especially promi- 
nent in the production of new Peonies, namely: John 
Richardson of Dorchester, Mass.; H. A. Terry of Cres- 
cent, la., and George H. Hollis of South Weymouth, 
Mass. 
In the propagation of Peonies or the raising of 
seedlings there is no road to quick results. It takes 
four to six years before blooms may be had from seed, 
and from thousands of seedlings less than one per cent 
will merit the distinction of a name for introduction as 
a new variety. It takes many more years to increase 
the stock by the slow process of division sufficiently to 
be able to offer it to the trade. The plants may be 
divided by three every three or four years. Is it any 
wonder that good new varieties are listed for $5 to $25 
each? New varieties are mostly introduced by amateurs. 
The professional florist or nurseryman can scarcely afford 
to wait so long for results, except where they have been 
raised for the love for something new and the fascina- 
tion of watching them grow. 
It is to be regretted that in a collection of Peonies 
contributed from nearly all over the world, containing 
nearly 3,000 names, there are less than 300 distinct varie- 
ties, the other names all being duplicate or inferior varie- 
ties that cannot be traced to any known origin. The 
nomenclature committee of the American Peony Society 
was formed for the purpose of trying to straighten out 
this mess. Edithts Supurba, that splendid variety, nearly 
always in bloom for Memorial Day, was masquerading 
under some thirty different names, and so on. 
For twenty-three successive Junes, I have studied and 
lived among Peonies, but a hundred years is far too short 
to know them as I would wish. A glance through the 
various catalogs of today proves the fact that varieties 
introduced 1O0 or more years ago are still among the 
rarest and most high priced sorts, due to their slow multi- 
plication and strong demand. 
Peonies may be planted any time from August until 
late in the Fall or early Spring. September is the best 
time, however, as they will make a root growth before 
Winter sets in and they will bloom the following Spring. 
Not until the third year after they are planted will they 
produce perfect flowers. They require less care after 
planting than other flowers. They will grow and thrive 
for years without being disturbed. I have seen them 
grow without any care whatever, but they will 
abundantly repay good care and nourishment. They 
should be planted 2>y 2 feet to 4 feet apart in good garden 
soil and be surface mulched with manure in the Fall. 
They may be used in excellent taste among shrubbery 
or among other hardy perennials, as single clumps or 
large beds in the lawn, bordering drives or broad land- 
scape effects, thriving everywhere whether in full sun or 
partial shade. As a cut flower nothing is more suitable 
for weddings, church decorations and social functions. 
Without the Peony we would be at a great loss on 
Memorial Day, just as we would be without Chrysanthe- 
mums at Thanksgiving. 
I will endeavor to name a few of the most popular 
varieties : Red and Crimson — M. Martin Cohuzae, Cherry 
Hill, Plutarch, Adolphe Rosseau, Decandolle, Rubra 
Suburba, lime. Bawuet, Edouard Andra, Atrosanguinea, 
George Washington, Liberty. 
Pink and Rose Varieties — Clair Dubois, Mme. Balot, 
M. Jules Elie, Lamartine, Eugene Verdier, Gloire de 
Gombault, Lady Beresford, Lady Lenora Bramwell. 
Georgiana, Shaylor, Alexandre Dumas. Albert Crousse, 
Cameron, La Coquette. W r ilhelmina, Souv. de l'Exposition 
de Lille, Princess Beatrice, Edulus Suburba, Felix 
Crousse. 
White and Delicate Tinted Varieties — Festiva Maxi- 
ma, Couronne d'Or, Duchess de Nemours, Albatra, Due 
de Wellington. La Tulipe, Mme. Calot, Mme.. Crousse, 
Mme. Emile Lemoine, ( )ueen Victoria, Solfatare, Golden 
Harvest, Marie Lemoine. 
Most of the above varieties are suitable for cut flowers 
and a portion of which will bloom early, midseason and 
late.— Read Before Lancaster County Florists' Club. 
