2 l / 2 inches of soil as near as can be. Shallow 
planting induces root rot, deep planting, shy 
blooming. 
Peonies should be planted in soil natu¬ 
rally or artificially well drained. They like 
a sunny situation and should not be planted 
near the base of buildings, nearer than 30 
feet to a tree one foot in diameter, and 10 
feet from a privet hedge. When you go into 
the South Land out of the natural habitant 
of the peony, shade is essential during the 
heat of the day, also water during the grow¬ 
ing season. 
Distance apart to plant may be varied only 
slightly, for best results when they are ex¬ 
pected to remain 8 or 10 years. In planting 
a single row, they should be 3 feet apart. 
In garden or field 3 J /> by 4 feet. Double 
this number could be grown on this same 
ground for two or three years. 
Peonies should have a light mulch of most 
any kind of litter except manure the first 
winter. This will prevent heaving by the 
frost. After this, no protection whatever 
is necessary. 
The time to plant peonies is from the first 
of September till the ground freezes; the 
choice of this time is the last two weeks in 
September. Any time in October is good. 
The last day before the ground freezes is 
better than to wait another season. We do 
not furnish peony roots in the spring unless 
ordered in the fall. 
WHAT VARIETIES SHALL WE 
PLANT? 
Here Bulletin No. 7 published by the 
American Peony Society Jan. 1919, is very 
helpful. In this we have a symposium ot 
votes by the leading peony growers of the 
country on 487 varieties grading them from 
