September, 1918 
Obc Slower (Brower 
93 
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MRS. AUSTIN’S TALKS 
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A Trip and Some 
Peonies Worth Seeing. 
'E’RE going to 
see Carl,” was 
the surprising 
announcement 
made by the Head of the 
Hou^e some few weeks ago. 
It was surprising because, 
for a number of years past 
we have lived with our 
Gladioli so constantly that we have 
not been treating ourselves to trips 
entirely for pleasure, and perhaps 
had fallen into the stay-at-home rut, 
but the desire to visit this much loved 
one and the wife we never had met, 
had become deep seated in our hearts 
for a long time and had at last reached 
the point where it could be put off no 
longer, so almost before we realized it 
we were on our way to Minnesota, 
St. Paul being the objective point. 
As we left our home I looked regret- 
fully at the long row of Champion of 
England Peas that would be just right 
to can while we were gone, but con- 
soled myself with the thought of the 
several jars already cold-packprocessed 
and— well likely there would be plenty 
of sweet corn, anyway, and one has to 
go when the opportunity comes. I 
hoped the Roses would keep on bloom- 
ing, but my last glance rested lovingly 
on the row of Seedling Gladioli and I 
wondered if Nature in her marvelous 
munificence might not have a good 
new one hidden there for me. 
There had been a rain the night be- 
fore and my first daylight view out of 
door in Minnesota, was of a dewy 
glistening world, of a wood in the near 
distance, of clinging vines and shrubs, 
of birdhouses and gardens and then a 
garden. I’m not going to tell you any- 
thing about it now but sometime when 
the bleakness of winter’s chill weighs 
heavily upon us, I will ask you to go 
with me back to those beautiful July 
days and the luxuriant loveliness of 
Carl’s Garden. 
The Twin Cities were arrayed in 
their richest robes. The emerald vel- 
vet of their lawns banded with rich 
brown of the many oiled boulevards, 
set with the sparkling waters of numer- 
ous lakes, combined with the dignity 
of the great Mississippi presented a 
scene never to be forgotten. 
The various windings and curves of 
the boulevards were ideally picturesque 
but being accustomed to the straight 
roads of Ohio’s Western' Reserve, I 
sought in vain for " Danger, Sound 
Klaxon,” "Drive Slow, Sharp Curve 
Ahead” and similar warning signs 
placed by Automobile Clubs near our 
occasional curves, and invariably closed 
my eyes prepared for the worst, only 
to open them and find the driver visit- 
ing happily and perhaps rounding un- 
concernedly an even sharper curve. 
But there were multitudes of joyous 
autoists and as I forgot my fear the 
explorer’s mantle fell upon me and I 
eagerly watched for the un- 
seen charms just ahead. 
One especially delightful 
hour was spent in the Wild- 
flower Garden. 
Our rides carried us into 
the vicinity of flower-loving 
friends whose faces we were 
seeing for the first time, 
and our call at the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. D. W. C. Ruff 
at Bald Eagle Lake was one 
of those at which our reception was so 
delightfully cordial that it will ever be a 
pleasant recollection. Here were long, 
strong spikes of Gladioli ready to be 
sent to the customer, and a wonderful 
growth of Peonies many of which were 
prize winners. We also noted with in- 
terest his method of clipping the Iris 
to promote strong root growth. The 
foliage being cut straight across about 
halfway to the ground. 
We were charmingly entertained at 
the home of W. F. Christman and wife, 
both of whom were former residents 
of our Ohio town. Here were seen 
some of the choicest Peonies in exist- 
ence and although it was at twilight 
hour their strong thrifty growth was 
very noticeable. As his larger plant- 
ings were several miles away we did 
not have the opportunity to see them. 
Starting early a ride on the R. R. of 
about forty miles, partly across prairie 
brought us to Faribault. A short auto 
drive across the valley and up the hill- 
side and we were at our destination. 
There a homelike feeling came over 
us for we were on a hill top from which 
the view into the distance resembled 
the one from our Elm Hill Farm. On 
that hill were Peonies, and then more 
Peonies. There were plantings of 
Seedlings that had bloomed and the 
most promising ones marked for further 
trial. There were others that had 
stood the test of excellence, which in 
most cases was a trial of ten years, and 
were ready to receive their names and 
make their debut to the world. Others 
were waiting to go at the first call as 
the shipping season opened. As we 
went from one field to another we 
noticed the intense cultivation given 
them and the entire absence of weeds. 
Half way down the hillside we came to 
the birth-place of Martha Bullock , one 
of the finest and largest Peonies in the 
world, for we were at the home of The 
Brand Peonies. When this variety first 
reached its perfection it was so dis- 
tinct and conspicuous that a non-in- 
terested helper said to the originator : 
"I’ll give you ten dollars for that big 
one in the middle,” and the reply was: 
"Not for ten thousand would I part 
with it.” And the thought came to me 
that if a Gladiolus bulb is worth a 
thousand dollars why shouldn’t a Peony 
root be worth ten thousand. 
The season for Peony planting is now 
at hand, for although it may be planted 
almost any time from Sept, first until 
growth begins in the spring and will 
grow and bloom under conditions in 
which most plants would die, it is best 
to plant about the middle of September 
and give the little feeding roots a 
chance to start into growth enabling 
the plant to become better established 
and to make a stronger growth in the 
spring. 
They will grow well in any good fer- 
tile soil in which vegetables will do 
well but if your soil needs enriching 
be sure that the manure is well rotted 
as fresh manure near the roots would 
be injurious. Plant so that the buds 
or eyes will be from two to three inches 
below the surface and in cultivating be 
careful to not ridge them up. Deep 
planting will often prevent blooming. 
The Peony is so hardy that it is un- 
necessary to protect it usually but if 
roots are planted late it is well to give 
them a little strawy covering the first 
winter. 
It is a grand flower and should be in 
every garden. 
Mrs. A. H. Austin. 
Propagating Roses by Fall Cuttings. 
Climbing Roses are propagated mostly by 
hardwood cuttings made in the fall. Many 
cut-flower Roses may be propagated in the 
same way. 
Hardwood cuttings are taken from the 
dormant wood of winter, while softwood, or 
greenwood, cuttings are taken when the 
plants are in active growth. To make a 
hardwood cutting, good, strong, well ripened 
shoots of the past summer’s growth should 
be selected. These are better if cut between 
the time the leaves fall and freezing 
weather. If left until after cold weather, 
there is danger of injury from freezing. 
They should be cut into pieces of five or six 
inches, with the upper cut just above a bud. 
and should be tied in bundles with raffia or 
with string that does not rot easily if ex 
posed to dampness. After labeling plainly, 
they should be buried in moist sand, tops 
down, and placed in a cool cellar, or buried 
in the open ground below danger of frost. 
They should be planted in the open ground, 
in the spring, about or a little before corn- 
planting time, so that one or two eyes, or 
not over one inch of the cutting, are above 
ground, which will leave four or five inches 
in the ground. Care must be taken not to 
injure the calluses that have formed while 
the cuttings were buried. Sometimes better 
results are obtained by planting in partial 
shade. 
Frequently cuttings made in winter or 
early spring do nearly as well as those made 
in the fall, but in the North there is always 
danger of the wood being injured during the 
winter.— Countryside Magazine. 
One of our correspondents wants in- 
formation about the construction of a 
small green house with suggestions as 
to cost for a given size, and including 
simple method of heating. Those who 
have had experience along this line 
who can put it into shape so that it will 
help others, would show a public-spirit- 
edness by preparing a short article on 
this subject for publication in the 
columns of The Flower Grower. 
Gardeners not so provided feel the 
need of a small green house at times 
and we are all looking forward to hav- 
ing such a place so that we can grow 
flowers during winter as well as in sum- 
mer. The construction of a small 
greenhouse should be as simple as pos- 
sible. 
