l&arbp ffitant Specialties 
PEONIES, continued 
It can be readily understood, then, why a collection of fine Peonies constitutes a most valuable 
asset, steadily increasing in value from year to year. 
In many places Peonies are grown in large quantities exclusively for cut-flowers, which on Memorial 
Day are in great demand at good prices, and yield a very profitable income from the investment. For 
social functions, weddings, and church decoration, nothing is more suitable. For home and table decora¬ 
tions they are exceedingly effective, and last in water longer than most other flowers. By placing the buds 
in cold storage they may be kept in good condition for a month, and this practice is now being followed 
in many large cities with profitable results. 
For outdoor planting they may be effectively used in almost every conceivable location, as single 
clumps or large beds on the lawn, in long rows bordering drives, walks, and division lines, or in producing 
broad landscape effects in the open fields—thriving everywhere, either in open sun or light shade, excepting 
only such places where water is accustomed to stand. 
Time to Plant. —Peonies may be planted with perfect safety any time from the middle of August 
till the ground freezes in the fall, and in the early spring until growth has advanced too far. September and 
October is the best time, as they make a root-growth before winter, and bloom the following spring; 
thereby a whole year is gained, since late fall and spring plantings will not bloom until a year later. 
Our shipping season for Peonies begins September 1 and continues until the ground freezes. Spring 
shipments begin about March 25 and continue through the month of April. Spring orders received after 
growth is advanced too far will be held until September. 
Caution. —After being transplanted, Peonies will not produce typical blooms the first season, many 
fine double varieties throwing single or semi-double flowers, and it is not till the third year that the finest 
flowers are produced, and the taking of notes and making comparisons in a large collection should not be 
attempted before then. 
Culture. —This is so simple that little need be said. They will abundantly repay good care and 
nourishment, but they resent an over-abundance of fresh manure too near the roots. A division of the 
clumps at long intervals when they become so crowded as to interfere with freedom of bloom, and the soil 
kept loose and. free from weeds, is all that is necessary. Where grown for cut-flowers, they should not be 
disturbed oftener than is necessary; where they are grown for the sale of roots, they may be divided every 
second or third year. Plant so that the eyes will be from 2 to 3 inches below the surface. 
Price quotations are based on roots grown for one to two years since being divided. Freshly cut 
divisions are not sent except in case of scarce and rare varieties, or where the size of the existing clumps 
makes it unavoidable, but in any case good, strong roots will be sent, which, planted early and given proper 
care, may reasonably be^expected to bloom the following spring. Varieties differ so greatly in habit that 
the expressions “one-year” and “two-year,” or the number of eyes, convey no meaning whatever. A strong 
root with one eye often is infinitely better than a weak one with many. 
FOR IMMEDIATE EFFECT standard varieties can usually be supplied in extra-heavy three- 
to four-year-old clumps at double price. While customers who desire these large clumps may make 
their own selection of the varieties, it will be well to name a second choice in case the supply of large plants 
of some kinds should be exhausted; or, where color effect is the main object, it will be to their advantage to 
state colors desired and approximate price, leaving the selection of varieties to me. 
Scarce high-priced novelties can be supplied only in ordinary-sized plants. 
During the past season the demand for Peonies in this country has been extraordinary, especially for 
the finer novelties. A few years ago it was possible to replenish stocks direct from the introducers in Europe. 
The conditions are now reversed. A prominent European grower said to me recently: “We do not longer 
have stocks of these Peonies. You Americans have gotten them all away from us.” Many of the European 
growers are now buying them back from this country, and prices on the other side for many kinds are now 
much higher than they are here. My prices are the lowest possible consistent with the fact that I guarantee 
every variety to be absolutely true to name, and send out only plants that we grow in Wyomissing. 
Prizes Awarded. — I have been awarded many first prizes at numerous exhibitions, including the 
American Peony Society’s gold medals for the best collection of 100 varieties exhibited at Chicago, in 
June, 1914, at New York City, June, 1916, and Cleveland, June, 1918. 
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