We have always felt it is worth a whole lot to enjoy 
blooms without the customary w r aiting period of two 
or three years. The undivided 1-, 2-, and 3-year 
Peterson roots are forcing an ever-increasing number 
of gardeners to change their opinion about the length 
of time it takes a newly planted Peony to bloom. 
Naturally, the larger the root, the quicker and greater 
is the immediate effect. 
102 South St., Auburn, N. Y., July 6, 1924. 
I have bought Peonies from you for many years, and 
they are always fine, so you see that is what your customers 
expect and they are never disappointed. 
Several years ago I went to see a Peony farm near-by 
and saw Mikado for the first time. I came home and found 
it rather expensive in your catalog, so that fall I bought 
one locally. Result—first year, no flowers; second year, 
one or two very small; third year, three very small. Last 
fall, seeing lower prices, I ordered one from you. Result — 
first year I had many blossoms of very good size. And 
the other one did well this fourth year; had about as 
many blossoms of about the same size as yours of the 
first year’s planting. —Mrs. W. P. Beardsley. 
Uses for Landscape Effect and as 
Cut-Flowers 
There is probably no other plant with such varied useful¬ 
ness. Planted in beds and borders, or as specimen plants 
in the lawn, the Peony is equally at home. As an edging 
or facing for shrubbery it is likewise good, provided the 
roots are set on the sunny side. They are particularly 
attractive when used to border a drive or walk. 
Peonies make an attractive low ornamental hedge. Not 
only at blooming-time is the display magnificent, but the 
dark glossy green foliage, untouched by diseases or insects, 
is exceedingly attractive throughout the season. The cost 
of many of the most desirable low-priced sorts will allow 
for a hedge planting at very moderate expense. The roots 
may be set 3 feet apart, and a single row is quite ample. 
The Peony is permanent and will go on blooming for 
many, many years if not disturbed. Moving or dividing 
Peonies every few years destroys their blooming qualities. 
To enjoy the delicate colors of Peonies, they should be 
cut and used for artistic home-decoration. Hundreds of 
superb blooms may be cut from an established planting of 
less than a dozen roots. 
Season of Bloom 
Here in northern New Jersey (in latitude of New York 
City) the very early varieties begin to bloom about a week 
before Memorial Day, then follow the early and mid¬ 
season varieties the first and second week in June. Quite 
a few late and very late varieties give us some of the best 
bloom from June 15 to 20. The blooming season is really 
longer than that of most herbaceous perennials. And 
when you consider the thrill of expectancy one gets from 
the time in early April when those fresh reddish pink 
shoots first break through the ground, adding an inch or 
more a day to their stately appearance during May, 
getting ready to give us those gorgeous flowers in June, 
who dares say that the Peony season is not a long one? 
Surely none of us ask our pet lilacs or Philadelphus to 
keep on blooming for weeks at a time, although we con¬ 
tinue to admire their foliage until late frost. And when it 
comes to foliage, where is there a perennial to rival the 
Peony? 
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