24 
T be Flower 'Beautiful 
question of price has to be very carefully considered and the question of time is a matter of 
indifference, the buyer may probably do well to buy divisions of the expensive sorts. But 
what he saves in money he loses in time, for, whereas a 1-year root will usually bloom well 
within two or three years after planting and will give some bloom the first year, a division 
cannot be expected to give good bloom for a considerably longer time. Also, the actual loss 
in plants is certain to be greater. 
“He who is tempted by the low price on divisions may well reflect that the Peony is a 
slow plant at best, and that the real values of time and money, when the time is reckoned 
in years, will bear careful thinking over.” 
We have always felt it is worth a whole lot to enjoy blooms without the customary waiting 
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. 
When to Plant Peonies in the Fall 
From the middle of September on through October and November. The roots are in 
prime dormant condition during late September and early October, which are the ideal 
planting months. The farther south, the later the planting should be made. 
When to Plant Peonies in the Spring 
Orders for Spring Planting of Peonies must be booked no later than the first week in 
April. To ship and plant them successfully they must be freshly dug just as soon as frost 
leaves the ground. We do not dig Peonies for winter storage. Spring planting is practical, 
provided you order and plant very early. 
Uses for Landscape Effect and 
as Cut-Flowers 
There is probably no other plant with such 
varied usefulness. Planted in beds and bor¬ 
ders, or as specimen plants in the lawn, the 
Peony is equally at home. As an edging or 
facing for shrubbery it is likewise good, pro¬ 
vided 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 dis¬ 
play 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 dis¬ 
turbed. 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 midseason 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 con¬ 
sider 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? 
About Peony Prices 
The variation in prices is not necessarily an 
indication of comparative Peony beauty. The 
older varieties that multiply rapidly are in 
greater supply. Many kinds are slow propa¬ 
gators and will always be in short supply. 
True varieties can only be propagated by the 
slow process of root-division and not from 
seeds. With many of the newer and highly 
refined varieties it takes a long time to work 
up sufficient stock to meet the current de¬ 
mand. No artificial means can be employed, 
and so large quantities cannot be grown to 
order. 
Our basic price, as noted after each variety, 
is for a 1-year plant (a large division grown one 
year in the nursery row). 
For 2-year plants, add 50 per cent to the 
1-year price. 
For 3-year plants, double the price of 
1-year. 
All three sizes available except where 
noted. 
The increase in price for the older plants is in 
proportion to the added years of care and culti¬ 
vation in our fields. 
PEONY DISCOUNTS 
Orders amounting to $10 upward . 10% off 
Orders amounting to $20 upward 15% off 
These discounts do not apply to special collections 
