THE "FARTHEST NORTH'’ PEONY COLLECTION 
Here in his garden at Ayer’s Cliff, Province of Quebec, Canada, Mr. Norton grows something over four hundred and fifty vari- 
eties of Peony including, of course, most of the choicest; which affords opportunity for a considerable amount of experimental work 
PERSONAL PREFERENCES OF A PEONY FANCIER 
HARRY A. NORTON 
Editor’s Note: That a man of affairs with headquarters at Boston has found time in the intervals of business to establish in 
Canada so notable a garden evidences a considerable and unflagging enthusiasm. Mr. Norton is, in fact, not only an ardent collector of 
Peonies but their benefactor as well; being a very active member of The American Peony Society whose annual exhibition was 
recently held at Horticultural Hall, Boston. 
•HE first Peony I remember was the red one that grew 
zm in our garden when I was a small boy; later, white and 
pink ones were added. No one seemed to know their 
5r|r ^ names — they were just “Peonies,” but they brought 
a welcome note of color to the garden every June. 
It was many years after, and quite by accident that my at- 
tention was drawn to the modern Peony. While waiting one 
day for luncheon in the chateau district of France, my host 
suggested that I look at a garden across the street. There, in 
a brief half hour, 1 saw one of the finest collections in Europe; 
for, although 1 did not realize it at the time, I was in the garden 
of M. Dessert, one of the world’s greatest Peony growers from 
whose garden have come some of the finest Peonies in cul- 
tivation. 
Later, a visit to the Flower Show in Paris disclosed more won- 
derful varieties, and finally, after a trip to Japan in the season 
when Peonies and Irises were at their best, 1 became so en- 
thusiastic that I commenced collecting. 
.In my first importation were included several of the Tree- 
peony type. They arrived too late in the season to be planted, 
as the ground was frozen, so they were put in the cellar and 
forgotten until one day in early spring several of the plants were 
discovered in full bloom. 
After a dozen years of collecting and discarding, there are now 
growing in my garden about four hundred and fifty varieties of 
Peonies ranging from a division of that first Peony I can re- 
member, P. officinalis rubra, to the most recently introduced 
varieties. 
It is generally conceded that there are altogether too many 
varieties in cultivation, but it is a difficult matter for many of 
us to discard a thrifty plant once it is established, especially 
if it shows a friendly disposition to bloom faithfully each year, 
and in time one is very likely to accumulate a considerable 
number of second rate varieties which should be replaced by 
those of the first class. 
The most satisfactory way to select the best varieties is to 
attend the Peony Shows or to visit the Peony gardens during 
the blooming season. This gives an opportunity for comparing 
color, form, and fragrance, and eliminates all chance of confusion 
over catalogue descriptions. 
There are so many varieties, each having its own particular 
charm, that it is difficult to say when the limit of my favorites 
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