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THE OLD FASHIONED RED PEONY 
WENT WEST WITH THE PIONEERS aa 
IN COVERED) WAGONS 
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The story of the winning of the west, of the men and women 
who carved out their homes in the timber land, built the first 
rude bridges and subdued the corn land, is not complete to flow- 
er lovers unless we know something of the part that the old fash- 
ioned “red piney” played during the migration years when the 
pioneers were establishing their homes in the land of hope and 
opportunity. 
On the overland trek they travelled light. Their equipment 
was reduced to the bare necessities,the covered wagon, the ox- 
team, provisions, and ammunition. The only emblem of hope and » 
courage except the gleam in the eyes of those who faced the 
west, nestled securely in q corner of the wagon along with the 
axe, the candle mold and the copper kettle. It was a “toe” from. 
the old red piney that grew at the south corner of the old home- 
stead in Jersey or York State. : 
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! It was more than a tie to the home they were leaving, because 
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the red piney stood as an emblem,—a challenge that some day 
they would succeed in pulling the stumps and subduing the 
prairie. And daily, as they pressed on, following new and twist- 
ing trails, fording streams, fighting hardships and obstacles, the 
pieces of root were snug and safe in their meager cargo of bare 
necessities. 
When they reached their goal and the spot had been selected 
for the home, the very first spade full of earth was lifted to i 
plant the piney. Symbolically, at that moment the family had 
sunk its roots into the soil. The business of homemaking in a 
new land had started. 
Years before their sons were old enough to enlist in the 
Civil War the red piney had been divided repeatedly. .Time after _ 
time a spade had been forced down through the crown of the 
plant in order that neighbors and friends might dedicate a small 
spot in their own door yard to the piney that had been brought 
from back east. And so it went. Wagon trains carried the red 
piney into new areas. Wherever the frontier was pushed back 
a few miles, along it went, and each spring as soon as the snow 
melted it continued to send up new shoots followed of course by 
generous blooms, 
For one hundred years and more, grandmothers by the tens 
of thousands have given “toes” from the old fashioned peony to 
sons and daughters, friends and neighbors in all states,—in city, 
town and on the farms. It is still widely grown throughout the 
country. ‘Comparatively few plants have been sold. They have - 
been given away by kindly and stalwart souls who somehow be- 
lieve that man shall not live by bread alone. It is perfectly fit- 
ting that this flower which is so closely bound with the memories 
and sentiment of our people should be held in such high favor 
that it amounts to almost. a tradition among flower lovers. 

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WALTON E. MILLIMAN 
ROCKFORD, MICHIGAN 
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