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THE PEONY. 
Fragrant Peonies. 
By W. F. Christman, in Minnesota Horticulturist. 
It may be a matter of general interest to 
all to know that of the large number of 
named varieties of Peonies, only a compara- 
tively few of them have a sweet scent or 
agreeable odor, as is that of the Rose, the 
Lilac or the Pond Lily. This matter of 
fragrance of the Peony is of special interest 
at this time, since it is the one feature of 
that flower which was last to be developed, 
and is, therefore, found chiefly in the newer 
high grade varieties. It is true, of course, 
that a few of the older varieties are sweetly 
scented, and it is noticeable that all of these 
have been perpetuated and have become 
prime favorites with every one. Dealers 
and growers of Peonies for profit have ap- 
parently begun to recognize the importance 
of this crowning quality of the Peony. The 
reason for this seems obvious, as stated 
above, out of the large number of named 
varieties which are offered for sale, perhaps 
not to exceed one-twentieth of them possess 
this charming quality, and if they attached 
the importance to this quality which, in the 
opinion of the writer it rightfully deserves, 
there would be small chance for the sale of 
the large number of varieties which possess 
the unpleasant odor, which one unfamiliar 
with the modern sweet scented varieties is apt 
to associate with the name of the Peony. If 
the reader will take the trouble to examine 
the various catalogues sent out by dealers 
and growers, he must be struck with the 
comparatively few varieties which are men- 
tioned as fragrant. This, however, is chang- 
ing and will, we believe, continue to change, 
since the demand for fragrant varieties is 
constantly increasing, and growers and dealers 
will be forced to recognize the potent force 
of this demand, and when it becomes gen- 
erally known that the most beautiful Peony 
blossoms are those possessing a sweet and 
agreeable fragrance, the writer ventures to 
predict that the purchasing public will de- 
mand fragrant varieties only. 
A long blooming period is just as easily 
obtained by a proper selection of fragrant 
varieties as by those that are not fragrant. 
Probably the earliest Peony to bloom is the 
single Peony, which is catalogued under 
various names, Albaflora, The Bride and 
Fiancee, all of which, it is believed, are sub- 
stantially identical. Following this in time 
of blooming and among the well known va- 
rieties is Madame De Verneville and Festiva 
Maxima, then Mons. Dupont, Couronne de 
Or and Marie Lemoine. Of course there are 
many other varieties among which are 
noticeable, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Le 
Cygne, Emile Lemoine, Alice de Julvecourt, 
Aurora, Alsace Lorraine, Francis. Willard 
and Florence Nightingale.. 
Of the shell pink varieties, among the 
commoner and well known fragrant sorts is 
Umbelluta Rosea, as the first and earliest to 
bloom, Grandiflura Carnea Plena, followed by 
Albert Crousse, Bernard de Pallissy and Eu- 
gene Verdier. Of the more expensive va- 
rieties of this color, which bloom in the 
order named are the following : Judge Berry, 
Mons. Jules Elie, Therese, Martha Bulloch, 
Henry Avery and Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This 
list of shell pinks does not include the so- 
called tri-colored varieties, which show three 
or more colors in the same blossom, and 
which are very striking and much admired. 
Probably the three best known fragrant va- 
rieties of this classification are Jeanne de 
Arc, an early variety, Philomtle, a mid-season 
variety, and Chestine, a late variety. 
The first of the fragrant, deep pink varie- 
ties is Edulus Superba and Malene Henry. 
They are followed in the order named by 
:flower (Brower 
Modiste Guerin, Duke of Devonshire, Augus- 
tine de Hour and Humei Carnea. 
Of the reds, the earliest fragrant red to 
bloom is Rubra Officinalis followed by Richard 
Carvel, E G. Hill, Madame Bucquet, Ben 
Franklin and Felix Crousse. Of course it is 
impractical to name in this article the many 
different varieties that are in bloom at the 
same time. The purpose has been to choose 
different varieties as representatives of their 
particular period of bloom, merely to show 
that a continuous period of six weeks more 
of fragrant blossoms of every color may be 
had by careful and proper selection. 
Peonies. 
(reply to “Peony.”) 
These constitute one of the chief features 
of the hardy flower garden during the 
months of May and June, and too much 
cannot be said in their praise. They pos- 
sess an exquisite perfume, and their large, 
handsomely formed flowers vary from the 
deepest crimson to the purest white. 
Hardiness — The first point in favor of 
Peonies is their perfect hardiness. In the 
severest climates the plants require no other 
protection than that which they afford them- 
selves. Then their vigorous habit and healthy 
growth, freedom from all diseases and in- 
sects, are important arguments in favor of 
their cultivation, each succeeding year add- 
ing to their size and beauty. The foliage 
is rich and glossy and of a beautiful deep 
green color, thus rendering the plants very 
ornamental when out of flower. 
Position-The double forms of the her- 
baceous Peony rank among the best of hardy 
borders or shrubbery plants, although they 
are somewhat neglected — probably owing to 
the fact that they are so large that in small 
gardens they occupy too much room. There 
are, however, generally to be found, even in 
gardens of limited size, spots so much shaded 
that scarcely any plant will thrive in them. 
In such places Peonies would grow luxu- 
riantly; the color of their blooms would, in 
many cases, be even more intense, and they 
would last much longer than flowers fully 
exposed to the sun. They may, therefore, 
be made useful as well as ornamental even 
in small pleasure grounds, although the 
proper place for them is undoubtedly the 
fronts of large shrubberies, plantations, or 
by the sides of carriage drives. Where dis- 
tant effect is required, no plants so admir- 
ably answer the end, as their size and 
brilliancy render them strikingly visible, even 
at long distances off. Planted on either side 
of a grass walk, the effect which they pro- 
duce is admirable, especially in the morning 
and at or near sunset, and when planted in 
masses, as, for instance, in beds in pleasure 
grounds, they are invaluable for lighting up 
sombre nooks. 
Soil and Planting— Herbaceous Peonies 
succeed in any soil and in any position, but 
a good moist loam, particularly when en- 
riched by the addition of cow manure, is the 
soil best suited to them. They can be planted 
at any time of the year, but from October to 
April is the best. Take care to have the 
ground well prepared for their reception by 
manuring and trenching it to a depth of 
about three feet, and on no account should 
they be planted nearer than four feet apart 
in each direction. They must not be ex- 
pected to flower well before the second or 
third year after planting. They do not re- 
quire to be shaded from the sun until they 
flower, when some slight shade prolongs and 
preserves their delicate tints, and also en- 
ables the flowers to become more thoroughly 
developed than they otherwise would be ; 
watering the plants judiciously now and 
then, as soon as the bucs are well formed, 
with liquid manure also greatly benefits 
them. It is likewise, of course, necessary 
January, 1919 
when the tufts have become very strong, 
and have impoverished the soil, to separate 
and transplant them to fresh ground. — Gar- 
dening Illustrated (English.) 
Catalogues and Price Lists. 
Munsell & Harvey, Ashtabula, Ohio. — Single page 
price list. The better known and standard sorts 
priced by the thousand and the more rare and newer 
varieties by the hundred. 
Austin-Coleman Co., Wayland, Ohio.— Wholesale 
list describes and illustrates the four Austin origina- 
tions, Gretchen Zang, Bertrex, Evelyn Kirttand and 
Herada. Prices quoted by the hundred. Also, their 
list of surplus varieties priced by the hundred and by 
the dozen ; also bulblets. 
G. M. Reburn & Co., 172 N. Wabash Ave. , Chicago, 
111. — Wholesale list of Gladioli, 21 varieties priced per 
hundred and per thousand. Also their florists’ list 
of Cannas, Roses, &c. 
Geo. S. Woodruff, Independence, Iowa. — Whole- 
sale price list of Gladioli, the standard varieties and 
some of the newer introductions. Prices on various 
sizes and bulblets. 
George J. Joerg, New Hyde Park, N. Y.— 1918-’919 
wholesale price list of Gladioli. Some of the better 
known and new varieties priced by the hundred 
and by the thousand with some of the rarer sorts 
priced by the dozen only. 
H. E. Meader. Dover, N. H — Wholesale list of 
Gladioli, some of the very best standard varieties and 
a number of the best new things including Myrtle. 
Also a special illustrated circular on Myrtle. 
Fred W. Baumgras. 423 Pearl St.. Lansing, Mich.— 
Eight page retail catalogue of Gladioli. Some of the 
rare and beautiful new sorts are included in this list. 
Also wholesale list with prices by the hundred on 
blooming sizes, planting sizes and bulblets. 
Richard DienerCo., Kentfield, Marin County, Cali- 
fornia.— Edition for 1919 of their catalogue, 10 pages 
and cover, describing and illustrating Gladioli, Pe- 
tunias, Pansies. &c. Also Diener’s mammoth white 
corn. The Diener Gladiolus introductions are fully de- 
scribed and prices quoted by the single bulb, dozen 
and hundred. The cover is a beautiful colored illus- 
tration of one of Diener’s monstrous Petunias. 
A. E. Kunderd, Goshen, Ind.— Complete catalogue 
and price list of the Kunderd originations— 48 pages 
and cover. Beautifully illustrated and containing 
much interesting matter and descriptions of the well 
known Kunderd varieties. While the catalogue is 
much the same as the one for 1913. Mr. Kunderd has 
explained that the prices are the same for 1919 as they 
were for 1918, and that a new catalogue was unneces- 
sary except for new customers, and has requested 
those having the 1918 catalogue to preserve same for 
reference. 
Bound Volumes as 
a Reference Library. 
The four bound volumes of The 
Modern Gladiolus Grower (1914 to 
1917 inclusive) contain more useful 
information regarding the Gladiolus, 
its culture, history and improvement 
than can be had from any other source. 
These four bound volumes also contain 
much useful information about other 
summer-flowering plants, but the Gladi- 
olus is especially well covered. These 
volumes contain the W. W. Wilmore, 
Jr., articles entitled, “The Gladiolus 
Manual.’’ All information is quickly 
available by means of an index in each 
volume, and those who are interested 
in studying the subject cannot afford 
to be without these bound volumes. 
There has been no advance in the 
price. We are still furnishing the four 
volumes postage prepaid for $5.00. 
Furnished separately at the same rate, 
$1.25 each. Those who are interested 
in studying the practical and scientific 
features in connection with growing 
Gladioli should surely have a complete 
file. 
Don’t forget to watch your thermom- 
eter in the bulb cellar. We will have 
cold weather before planting time. 
