THE AUTEN ORIGINATIONS 
FOREWORD 
Those who have seen our ten acres of Peonies in bloom 
can read this catalogue with understanding of the many 
fine and “different” kinds it offers. To others we give a 
few facts about our work, hoping they will have confidence 
to place an order with us and grow for themselves some 
of these fine new kinds. 
I have been growing and studying Peonies for 31 years, 
and developing new kinds for 25 years; have grown over 
300 kinds, and have watched progress in Peonies as shown 
at National shows every year since 1923 except 4 or 5. 
I have raised many thousands of new Peonies from seed 
in order to obtain new kinds. From these I have named 
over 180 kinds, and still have about 400 more under 
advanced trial. The Seedling Committee of the American 
Peony Society has given me more official awards on new 
seedlings than to any other originator. So far only 33 of 
my named kinds have been given an official rating by the 
Society, but of these, 9 rated from 8.60 to 8.95, and 21 have 
the honor rating of 9.0 or higher (10.0 being top). At the 
present time 150 Peonies have this honor rating, and the 
Auten total of 21 of these is the largest for any one man. 
Early in my work I was impressed with the widely 
varying color and type preferences of different people, and 
I realized the importance of striving for improvement in 
every type and color. As a result, the Auten Originations 
offer a wide range from which you may choose. They are 
outstanding in the following respects: 
1. Clear, unfading dark reds in all types, single, Japan¬ 
ese, semi-double and double, both in the common species, 
and the Hybrids. 
2. Reds with a clear purplish cast which many people 
definitely like, but which, unlike many older reds, are not 
ugly and coarse. 
3. Singles and Japs of all colors, setting entirely new 
standards of excellence. 
4. White doubles and pink doubles comparable with the 
best, and with most of the late ones opening better than 
many of the older kinds. 
5. Officinalis Hybrids giving a ten day season of bloom 
before the common kinds start, in magnificent shades of 
red and pink. 
6. Novelty colors in various types, giving distinctive 
effects in refined tones, a real advance in that regard over 
the odd Japs which came from Japan. 
New Introductions, 1941 Auten Originations 
Chief Justice. Officinalis Hybrid. Rich red semi- 
double, of good size, on stiff stems. One of latest 
hybrids .$ 6.00 
Elfin White. A charming, dainty pure white single 
with two rows of petals. Medium sized blooms 
on tall stems. Early. I have a large stock, hence 
the bargain price. 1.00 
June Giant. An enormous dark red, practically a 
double as the very few stamens are well hidden. 
Late, with a good stem. Color is fine, and the 
only really good red I ever saw that could com¬ 
pete in size with the enormous white or pink 
doubles on the show table. I don’t know how big 
it can be grown, as I have never had it on large 
plants. Stock very limited. 25.00 
Maxine. Pink double, a bit lighter than Therese. 
A high built bloom on good plant' of medium 
height. Late midseason. 5.00 
