124 
made too rich with well rotted manure 
and leaf mold, but fresh manure must 
not come in contact with the roots, but 
may be used liberally on the surface 
over winter. The richer the ground 
the stronger will be the plants and the 
larger the blooms. 
A block of Peonies for permanent 
planting should stand three feet apart 
in rows four feet apart. A single row 
may be but two and one-half feet apart. 
The second fall from planting every 
other plant should be lifted and planted 
eighteen inches away. The third or 
fourth year every other row should be 
taken out. Radishes or other early 
vegetables may be grown between if 
ground is sufficiently rich even after 
blooming size. 
By the fourth year the strongest will 
begin to bloom. If the planting is 
large there will be every color and 
shade in single, semi-double, full 
double and the little Japs, with no two 
just alike. Single pink and light rose 
predominate. There will be good, bet- 
ter and best, with possibly not one first 
prize winning bloom, but you will not 
have one but that will be, when at its 
best, prettier than any other kind of 
flower in the garden. Single Peonies 
have a grace and delicacy that the 
double blooms do not possess. 
You may now lift out the least de- 
sirable kinds, replacing them with one 
from the end of the row, or by dividing 
some of the best. Never allow a va- 
cancy. These rejected plants are set 
aside until you find time and some 
corner that can be brightened by them. 
Failing this, plant them near the fence 
along the public road where they will 
surprise and gladden the eyes of many 
a weary traveller. 
Do not fear stock will injure them 
when thus planted. No domestic ani- 
mal will eat nor bother them unless 
penned in and starved to do so. They 
will thrive where any weed will do well. 
Connecticut Fair. 
At Hartford, Sept. 1st, was staged 
the largest flower show ever seen in 
this city. The Floral Hall at the fair 
grounds was completely filled and an 
overflow exhibit was staged in the 
main exhibition hall. 
The display of Dahlias was wonder- 
ful both as to size and quality. 
There were a large number of entries 
in the Gladiolus section and the prizes 
were well distributed. The interest of 
the large crowd was centered in the 
collections of 100 vases of single spikes 
shown in the main hall. Many visitors 
were busy with pencil and paper tak- 
ing down the names of choice attrac- 
tive varieties, an indication of future 
business for the growers exhibiting. 
The first prize in this class was given 
to C. W. Brown, and E. M. Smith, 
second. 
^ Vase of 25 spikes America, E. M. 
Smith, first, and C. W. Brown, second ; 
25 Mrs. Francis King, C. W. Brown, 
first, J. K. Alexander, second ; 25 Mrs. 
Pendleton, Alfred E. Doty, first, N. Nel- 
son, second ; 20 Pink, except America, 
E. M. Smith, first, F. H. Pond, second ; 
both showing Panama ', 20 Scarlet, ex- 
Ofye Slower (Brower 
cept Mrs. King, E. M. Smith, first, 
Coombs, The Florist, second ; both 
showing Velvet King', 20 White, E. M. 
Smith, first with Rochester White, and 
F. H. Pond, second with Enropa. 
Five Crimson, E. M. Smith, first with 
Empress of India, C. W. Brown, second ; 
5 Scarlet, C. W. Brown, first with a 
seedling, E. M. Smith, second; 5 Yel- 
low, N. Nelson, first with Canary Bird, 
Alfred E. Doty, second ; 5 Lilac, J. K. 
Alexander, first, C. W. Brown, second, 
both with Scarsdale', 5 Blue, E. M. 
Smith, first, J. K. Alexander, second ; 
both with Baron Ilulot ; 5 Dark Pink, 
E. M. Smith, first with Independence, 
C. W. Brown, second ; 5 Light Pink, 
Coombs, The Florist, 1st with America, 
E. M. Smith, second ; 5 Striped, C. W. 
Brown, first, J. K. Alexander, second. 
Mr. Gurdon R. Scrivener, the super- 
intendent of the department, is to be 
congratulated on the fine and success- 
ful exhibit which was largely due to 
his energy, and assistance given to the 
exhibitors. 
C. W. Brown. 
The Peony and the Sparrow. 
By Mrs. Sarah A. Pleas. 
Prompted by reading “ The Rose and The Robin ” 
in The Pictorial Review. 
Then came one little sparrow 
With heart so brave and true 
Returning with each morrow 
To sing and sip the honeydew. 
He charmed my little floret 
And builded in her crest, 
Then brought his little sweetheart, 
To occupy the dainty nest— 
As he whistled and repeated 
Sweet ! Sweetery sweet ! Sweetery sweet ! 
Since then my little garden 
Is filled with Peonies gay. 
Where all their little fledglings 
With music fill the day. 
And within my garden’s center 
Where these lovely Peonies sway 
And the sunshine loves to linger 
Their second nest is hid away, 
As they whistle and repeat — 
Sweet ! Sweetery sweet ! Sweetery sweet ! 
Plant Quarantine No. 37. 
Readers of The Flower Grower 
will doubtless be interested in knowing 
what is necessary to conform with the 
regulations of the U. S. Department of 
Agriculture to enable them to import 
flower stocks under Plant Quarantine 
No. 37. 
If we are correctly informed it is 
necessary to apply to the Federal Hor- 
ticultural Board, U. S. Department of 
Agriculture, Washington, D. C. They 
will send necessary blanks to be filled 
in. The chief requirement is that the 
stock for importation should be either 
a "novelty,” or "necessary propagating 
stock.” 
December, 1919 
A "novelty” is defined as follows : 
“ A plant variety, strain, type, or form, 
either recognized by the trade as a novelty 
and listed or described as such in cata- 
logues, trade journals or other publications 
or duly and properly certificated by the origi- 
nator or introducer.” 
"Necessary propagating stock” is de- 
fined as follows : 
“Stock of old or standard varieties not 
available in this country and imported for 
the multiplication of the plants in question 
as a nursery or florist enterprise as dis- 
tinguished from importations for immediate 
or ultimate sale of the stocks actually im- 
ported.” 
In making application it is necessary 
to give quantity and designation of 
stocks imported, name and address of 
the exporter and grower, country and 
locality where grown and the name 
and address of person or persons to 
whom the plants are to be forwarded 
after inspection and release by the De- 
partment of Agriculture. The regu- 
lations further provide that a bond is 
required that the conditions set forth 
by the Federal Horticultural Board 
shall be fulfilled. Stock imported un- 
der permit as above to be planted and 
grown so as to maintain its identity 
and the board shall have the privilege 
of inspecting stock at any time and 
destroying it if necessary. 
In case the stock imported is found 
to be diseased or infected, it is liable to 
be destroyed. The details of securing 
the necessary permit and the regula- 
tions and requirements do not seem to 
be especially complicated and it would 
seem that it would be possible to im- 
port under this arrangement stocks 
really needed for propagating purposes. 
Chokecherry for the Garden. 
Our common Chokecherry or Prunus vir- 
giniana, due to its suckering roots tends to 
develop into a shrubbery clump of its own, 
though with a little attention it can be 
grown either as a large shrub or small tree. 
It is not to be recommended for general 
planting, particularly not where a more cul- 
tured specimen of shrub or small tree can 
take its place, but to tidy up the ragged ends 
of a place it is sometimes about the only 
thing that will grow satisfactorily and per- 
sist. Its roots will push their way through 
almost any kind of a soil and once established 
the plant is drought resistant. Left alone a 
Chokecherry will sooner or later occupy all 
the ground available. Growing at its own 
sweet will a few of the innermost shoots 
develop into small trees while the outermost 
shoots grow as short canes that carry the 
foliage of such a clump down to the ground. 
If one has a mind to do it a Chokecherry 
can be grown as a well balanced lawn tree 
while the persistent suckers that keep 
springing up all about the base of the tree 
can be easily held down with the lawn 
mower. They do not injure the lawn. Dur- 
ing its blossoming time, a period of about 
two weeks, a Chokecherry clump is really 
pretty and the fragrance is all pervading. 
When the fruit is ripe there is a feast for 
the birds, robins appear to be especially 
fond of it. This is a point in its favor not 
to be forgotten. As a means of screening 
an objectionable view, especially on poor soil 
that cannot be given much preparation and 
where subsequent care is out of the ques- 
tion, Prunus virginiana is to be recom- 
mended.— C. L. Meller, N. D„ in The Garden 
Magazine. 
Once in my little garden 
A Peony came to dwell 
And because I was its warden 
I called it Little Nell. 
It laughed at summer showers 
Proud of its fragrance too, 
As it coquetted with the sparrows 
And flirted in the dew, 
Whilst the breezes softly whispered 
We love you-u-u, we love you-u-u. 
