rows indeed tlievj make a delightful hedge effect 
where one sort is planted, so the hedge blooms 
all at one time. This hedge makes a fine effect 
when used as division lines between city lots or to 
act as a screen along alleijways or unsighthj 
fences or buildings, for remember after the Peomj 
is done blooming the plant itself is desirable for 
foliage effect. Simply cut away the seed pods 
and trim in the few tips of branches that may be 
longer than the others so as to make a uniform 
hedge. Planted to border a walk Peonies are 
pretty (see front cover page for this effect). Where 
you plant Peonies in beds set at least 3L6 to 4 
feet apart each wayj; where planted in rows as 
for hedge effect plant 2 feet apart, setting the 
eyes in the ground two inches below the surface. 
A covering of forest leaves held in place by ever¬ 
green boughs or other weight to keep the leaves 
from blowing away will be found very beneficial 
during the severe cold weather of winter. Peony 
roots are perfectly hardy; this covering keeps the 
newly planted roots from being lifted out of their 
places by frost. Do not apply this covering until 
the ground is frozen. Remove after hard freezing 
in the early spring. It s the freezing and thawing 
that do the damage. Freezing the roots does no 
damage, but every freeze and thaw lifts the roots 
a little. Let Nature keep repeating this operation 
and you will find your roots on top of the ground. 
This is a good time to apply fertilizer, taking care 
to keep the manure clear of the stems. Cover 
the stems with some other substance, such as leaves, 
etc. The manure acts as a protection and at the 
same time supplies the necessary fertilizer. 
Peonies as Cut Flowers 
If Peonies are to be used as cut flowers they 
should be cut just as the color begins to show; 
never by any means allow the flowers to open on 
the plant. After cutting, if to be used at once 
place the stems in water and set in the shade 
away from the wind; should you desire to keep 
the flowers some time, then after cutting as above 
in the bud keep them awarj from all water, lay 
them down in a cool dry cellar and twenty-four 
hours before you wish to use them, give the stems 
a fresh cut and place the stems in water. Keep 
them in a cool room and ijou will find they will 
open up into the most glorious flowers. Never 
mind how wilted they are. You will exclaim 
therj are no good, but follow directions and see 
results; you will have much finer flowers than the 
pickled flowers from storage that the florist sup¬ 
plies. Always water the ground in the beds of 
late flowering Peonies. Usually we have a dry 
spell during the middle or last of June. You will 
be well repaid for your trouble. 
Flowers lor Exhibition 
The largest flowers for exhibition are obtained 
in the following manner: The plant should be at 
least five years old, eight years old would be 
better. After the shoots appear in the spring 
select one, two or three of the stronger ones and 
nip all the others to the ground. This will cause 
the entire strength of the plant to center in the 
stems you allow to remain. Then as the buds 
appear pinch out all but the crown or terminal 
bud on each stem; this crown bud may always be 
distinguished by its coming on the end of the 
main stalk. The buds that come on the smaller 
side shoots or branches are called lateral buds; 
these lateral buds are the ones to pinch. This has 
the effect of throwing all the strength of this one 
stalk into this lone flower. 
The size of the flower as well as the color is 
helped by giving liyuid manure once or twice a 
week just as the buds begin to form. 
The best colored flowers for exhibition are cut 
in the bud state just as they begin to show color 
and opened in a cool room by placing the stems 
in water. The reason for this: The sunlight 
affects a Peony flower the instant it strikes it by 
changing the color. While in all these varying 
changes of the Peony flower as the sun 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 feet above them. This should be supplied 
just as they show color in the buds. Some tie 
paper sacks over the buds. One by experiment¬ 
ing 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 be cut. 
A safe rule is when therj 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 up the side of the stem into the pith so it will 
take up water faster. There is a waxy substance 
that seals up the ends of the flower stems; by giv¬ 
ing a fresh cut this is done away with. 
Tlie Peomj D isease 
The greedy growers have by their methods of 
over-propagating and feeding produced a disease 
variously known as uemetodes, club-root, root- 
gall, and the so-called “Lemoine’s Disease.” This 
disease did not originate with Lemoine, but with 
the greedy growers who bought his new produc¬ 
tions and “put them on the track,” in other words, 
“speeding them up.” Over-propagating, thus 
weakening; over-feeding, thus producing indi¬ 
gestion; result—root-gall. The disease is from 
within and not from without; it is neither infectious 
or contagious. It is a curious fact that a root that 
has the disease up to a certain point will produce 
more flowers than a perfectly healthy root, thus it 
is really a better cut flower subject, but not so good 
for root sales. In the stage above noted the dis¬ 
ease is conquered by cutting away most of the 
root and planting in soil free from acid and fertil¬ 
izers and left undisturbed for at least three years. 
Page Ten 
The Good & Reese Company, Springfield, Ohio 
