67 
1884.] 
THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 
PaiONIES. 
In order to treat of tlio cultivation of tlie 
Pa3onies as fully and concisely as their im¬ 
portance demands, it is necessary to divide 
them into two classes, viz.; the Tree Preonies, 
Pmonia Mouiaii and its varieties, and the 
more common herbaceous Pmonies. 
Leaving it for the reader to decide for 
himself whether to cultivate his collection 
in groups on the 
lawn, on the mar¬ 
gins of shrubberies, 
or in the mixed 
flower border, as 
may bo most suita¬ 
ble for his purpose, 
I would remind him 
that although the 
Pajony is perfectly 
hardj', it will not 
succeed where wa¬ 
ter stands on the 
surface of the 
ground, or near its 
roots during the 
winter season, and 
that in order to 
secure satisfactory 
results it is neces¬ 
sary to properly pre¬ 
pare the gi-ound be¬ 
fore planting. The 
Pffiony prefers a 
moderately enrich¬ 
ed, deep loamy soil, 
or one that is pre¬ 
pared by digging 
or trenching the 
ground to the depth 
of two feet or more, 
and at the same 
time working in a 
good supply of well 
decayed stable manure. All the preparatory 
work should be done in the fall, or as early 
in the spring as possible, that the ground 
may become well settled before planting¬ 
time. In planting, place the roots from two 
to four feet apart, according to their size, 
bearing in mind that the plants increase in 
size yearly; but it is well to plant thickly at 
first, so as to secure a satisfactory display, 
and as they increase in size and become 
crowded, every other plant may be removed. 
TREE P.®ONIES. 
Poionici Moutuiif the parent species of all 
our Tree Pmonies, is a native of China. All 
its varieties are dwarf, flowering shrubs, 
growing from three to five feet in height in 
about as many years. When planted in groups 
with other Poeonies, these should occupy the 
center. They are perfectly hardy, but do 
best if given a slight protection of evergreen 
branches during the winter season. A good 
di’essing of well-decayed manure, given every 
fall and dug in in the spring, is much appre¬ 
ciated by them. The plants when young are 
of slow growth, and are rather difficult and 
slow of in-opagation, and on this account 
they cannot be obtained at a cheap rate, 
good strong plants being worth from one ana 
a half to three dollars each, according to 
variety. The best six varieties are albajilena, 
aretimsa, extensa, liunkeri, Peine EUzahetli, 
and Kochierii. 
HERBACEOUS PA30NIES. 
These should be given a treatment similar 
to that advised for the Tree Pasonies, with the 
oxcoijtion of protection during the winter; 
this they do not require, but they are greatly 
benefited by a good dressing of well rotted 
manure applied in the fall. Those plants arc 
Iruly the (lower for the millions, and the case 
Avith which they can bo propagated causes 
them to bo oflored at such moderate prices 
that they are placed within the reach of 
all. They are generally classed into tlnoo 
In the third, or Chinese (P. fiinenm) divis- 
I ion, we have a large number of varieties to 
select from. The most desirable are edulh 
or fragranft, festiea, fnlgkla, globosa, IJumci, 
Lolliair, Oberon, piirgrirea, siiperba violacea, 
li'liilileji, and earnca aupeyba. 
The herbaceous Proonies are propagated 
by carefully dividing the roots; which opera¬ 
tion is best performed in the spring, about 
the early part of 
April. , 
The Tree Pasonies 
are propagated by 
gi’afting on the roots 
of P. Sinensic and its 
varieties. This is 
done by taking some 
strong single roots 
early in the spring, 
and planting them 
in good rich soil. 
Keep them growing 
until September; 
then cut a cion 
about three or fom‘ 
inches in length, 
sharpen it, and in¬ 
sert it firmly in the 
root; then cover 
with the earth that 
has been thrown out 
in order to insert the 
gi-aft, and if the 
work has been prop¬ 
erly done, the gi-aft 
Avill take care of it¬ 
self, and make a Aug- 
orous groAAdh the 
ensuing spring. 
Chas. E. Parnell.. 
DOUBLE-FLOWERED HERBACEOUS P/EONIA. 
divisions, auz. ; ojjioinalia, paradoxa, and 
Sinensis. 
P. offichiaiis and its A^arieties flovA'erfrom the 
middle to the end of May. The most desir¬ 
able varieties are maxima, rosea, and rn&ru. 
The beautiful P. tenuifniia and its double 
form are generally included in this diA'ision ; 
these are to many the gems of the genus. 
P/EONIA TENUIFOLIA FL, PL. 
having rich, fern-like, foliage and bright 
scarlet-crimson flowers. 
The second diAusion embraces but feAV 
varieties; P.paradoxa, amaranthescenssplier- 
ica, with vei'j’' double dark crimson flowers, 
and pulcherrima plena, Avith dark crimson 
flowers of a pm’plish shade, are the most 
desirable for amateurs. 
SOIL POE FLOWEE BEDS. ' 
The soil best adapted for flowering plants, 
generally, is a light, friable loam, containing 
a moderate amount of vegetable matter, and 
suffleient sand to render it porous ; but as it 
rarely happens that the amatem- has much 
choice of soil, it is fortunate that most plants 
Avill accommodate themselves to any but such 
' as is of an extremely dry, sandy, or caleare- 
I ous nature, or of a stiff, heavy, retentive 
i character. In the former the plants are sure 
1 to be starved, and in the latter, if they ever 
I fairly take root, there is generally an undue 
i development of foliage at the expense of the 
i flowers. In soils of this description much 
; may be done by thoroughly breaking up the 
! superficial crust, or as it is technically 
, termed, “trenching” it at least one spade 
: deep, digging in sharp sand or road scrap- 
1 ings; and if the operation be performed in 
I autumn so that the loosened soil is thoroughly 
I exposed during the Avinter to the disinte- 
! grating influences of frost and other at- 
'' mospherie agencies, the advantage Avill b6 
j gi'eatly increased. 
1 In soil of an opposite character, i. c., sandy 
or calcareous, the remedy will obriously con¬ 
sist in the addition of loam in conjunction 
with, decayed leaves or old rotten manure; 
or whei’e expense is no object, the surface 
may be entirely removed to a depth of eight 
or ten inches, and its place supplied Avith 
the best loamy compost at hand. Strong, 
crude manure of an animal nature should be 
avoided in flower beds. 
Flos. 
