flower the instant it strikes it by changing the color. While in all these varying changes of the Peony flower 
as the stm shines on it there is no flower more beautiful, yet you get the true color of the flower as developed 
in the shade. To get this color effect in the open ground, shade your plants with cheese cloth held about four 
leet above them. This should be supplied just as they show color in the buds. Home tie paper sacks over 
the buds. One by experimenting soon finds out the proper stage to cut the buds so as to develop them in 
water. The fewer petals a flower has, the tighter the bud may bo cut. A safe rule is when they first show 
color, they are practically in the tight bud stage, but ready to open. Always give your flower stems a fresh 
cut each day, also fresh water. The stem of a Peony flower is woody with a center of pith; make a long cut 
into the pith so it will take up water faster. There is a waxy substance that seals up the end of the flower 
stems; by giving a fresh cut this is done away with. 
Sulfurea. Madame Forel, 
Size of Roots 
The size of Peony roots varies as to variety, some sorts making strong roots with few eyes, while others 
make smaller roots with eyes in plenty, and then again this rule will be reversed. Some varieties do not 
throw normal bloom after division inside of two years, then again other varieties will throw grand flowers 
first year from division. We have seen as fine flowers on Monsieur Jules Elie at one year from division as we 
have at three years but not as many of them per plant. 
r i he newer varieties that arc scarce, the smaller the roots sent regardless of price. 
We grade our roots as follows: 
1st Size, Divided Roots -This is a root divided until it has from 2 to 5 eyes. This is the size we always plant 
and we recommend this for general planting, both as to the desirability of its low cost and the results 
obtained. Many varieties throw normal flowers the first year from planting. 
2d Size, One-Year Roots—This is a 1st size divided root of 2 to 5 eyes planted and grown for one year, then 
dug and sold you as it comes from the ground. This is a most desirable size and is well worth the addi¬ 
tional price asked for it. \ ou simply for the difference in cost between this size and 1st size save one year 
in time. This size will throw more bloom the first year from planting than the 1st size. This is the pop¬ 
ular size. 
3d Size, Two-Year Roots—This is the 2d size left in the ground one year longer and sold you as it comes from 
the soil. This size you gain two years of time. 
4th Size, Three-Year Roots — '1 his is the 3d size left in t he ground one year longer and sold you as it comes from 
the soil. This size you gain three years of time. 
Our aim is to always give value for the money entrusted to us for Peonies, and the fact that cur Peony 
sales have reached the enormous amount it has, running into the hundreds of thousands each season, should 
be proof that we are amply satisfying our customers. 
OUR GUARANTEE—\\ e guarantee our Peonies true to name and will cheerfully replace any that prove 
to be otherwise after they have reached their normal blooming period. 
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