Octavie Demay, a midseason bloomer with 
light pink irregularly double flowers 
A splendid mass of peonies in the garden of Daniel Low at Salem, Mass.—formerly the old 
Endicott garden, which is noted for its magnificent poenies 
quently reveal a total absence of stamens, and one petal overlaps 
the other to the very heart of the flower — but it is easily the 
most refined and chaste and possesses the most exquisite color 
and shadings. Of these such sorts as “Marie Lemoine,” “Eu¬ 
gene Verdier,” “Couronne d’Or,” “Madam Forel,” “Therese,” 
etc., never fail to arouse enthusiasm. 
To my mind the Peony boom, both in this country and 
abroad, has brought about an unfortunate situation — perhaps in¬ 
evitable — which may operate somewhat against sustained inter¬ 
est and prove a source of chagrin to the amateur collector. I 
speak of the continual introduction of reputed new varieties each 
season, which after testing prove to be no whit better than many 
sorts long since introduced, and in many cases so nearly identi¬ 
cal with existing varieties that even an expert cannot distinguish 
the difference. We have now about 2,500 varieties in cultiva¬ 
tion. That would be the horticultural statement — if I may so 
express it. The really correct way to put it, would be to say, 
that we have about 2,500 named Peonies. I venture to assert 
without fear of contradiction, that there are not over two hun¬ 
dred distinct sorts, even to the expert eye; and I venture still 
further to say, that anyone — not an expert — if he could view 
the twenty-five hundred varieties in bloom, could not possibly 
designate more than one hundred differing sorts. If my state¬ 
ment is correct, it see ns to me a pity — to employ no stronger 
term — that people should be led by glowing descriptions, and 
seductive names, into purchasing new varieties under the im¬ 
pression that they are securing Peonies distinct from those they 
already possess. One of the oldest specialists we have in this 
country has said that about one hundred and fifty varieties 
would cover the entire range of form and color. Another, a 
Western specialist, has gone on record with the statement that 
“the limit of perfection has long since been reached.” 
New seedlings are introduced each season in England, France 
and America, and from three to ten dollars asked for a single 
small root. In the majority of cases the sort does not begin 
to compare with varieties that have long since come into general 
cultivation. In some cases they are merely duplicates of exist¬ 
ing kinds. It is true that occasionally a really worthy new one 
is brought forward, in which case it is retained by the knowing 
collector. 
It is undeniably true that the majority of the finest and best 
varieties were introduced from ten to forty years ago. Take 
“Festiva Maxima,” for example. This was brought out by 
Miellez in 1851. In form, and every other point of real quality, 
it remains to-day the finest white in existence. It can be had 
now at from fifty to seventy-five cents, while two and three dol¬ 
lars is demanded for more recent introductions, which, though 
hailed as its superior, have failed lamentably to “make good” 
after thorough tests. 
There is also a tendency on the part of some growers to speak 
disparagingly of some of these older sorts. The reason is quite 
obvious ; the amount of stock in existence is considerable and 
the prices correspondingly low. There is no money in them. I 
have particularly in mind such sorts as “L’Esperance,” “Madam 
Lebon,” “Alice de Julvecourt” and “Delachei.” “L’Esperance” 
can be purchased for about thirty-five cents. It is the finest 
early pink—a flower of exquisite shading, and when given good 
culture measures seven and a half to eight inches across. It 
easily surpasses a dozen others usually quoted at from seventy- 
five cents to one dollar and fifty cents. 
I had a friendly “bout” with a specialist not long ago over 
the merits of “Ma¬ 
dam Geissler.” 
opponent thought 
the flower “big and 
fine in a way, but 
lacking in real qual¬ 
ity.” I confess to 
my inability to in¬ 
terpret this view. 
The flower instantly 
challenges compari¬ 
son. It is an enor¬ 
mous globular 
bloom, massive and 
imposing, a glossy 
pink with the most 
charming bright 
Bengal Rose shad¬ 
ings at the center. 
It is in no sense 
coarse, and is de- 
(Continued on 
page 184) 
Monsieur Jules Elie, introduced in 1888, 
whose broad lower petals make a splen¬ 
did setting for the compact and very 
double central portion 
