The New York show was especially to be congratulated on the great diversity 
of its exhibits. Peonies of every class, type and color were shown. The tree 
peonies were especially fine, the hybrids were never better, and there were more 
singles and Japs than elsewhere. 
The Guelph show was especially noteworthy for the general excellence of the 
blooms in all exhibits. These included many new seedlings, nearly all the new 
varieties of recent introduction and a fine lot of the best of the old. It was to be 
regretted that the tree peonies were not there—only one, a very fine one to be 
sure, was present. There were only a few hybrids and some of these were not 
labelled. Very few varieties of either singles or Japs were shown. But the 
doubles by their quality and variety more than made up for any lack elsewhere. 
The showing of seedlings was good, and probably the one that attracted the 
most attention was the very large and deep double, Ann Cousins, with its pure 
white petals all reflexed very much like a rose. Equally good in the opinion of 
many was S. F. Wood, a large blush white double with some stamens showing. 
A seedling of Mr. Keagey’s that has since been named White Bomber, also at- 
tracted much favorable comment. His light pink to blush single, Rose Bowl, was 
unique in its cupped form and the waxy appearance of its petals. I am told that 
a grand new white double was shown at Minneapolis which is as yet unnamed. 
The best flower in the show was judged to be a beautiful bloom of Yukon, a 
rather flat white which as shown was certainly a flower of great distinction. 
This was its first appearance in a show as far as I can remember. The best 
flower at Minneapolis was Mrs. Livingston Farrand, still the best pure pink in 
color we have. Doris Cooper was best light pink at Minneapolis, where it has 
always been a winner. Mattie Lafuze for the first time seen on three year plants 
won best blush there and at Guelph a first with a bloom from a two year plant. 
Ruth Elizabeth had the honor of being the best red at both New York and Guelph, 
and the blooms were from the same garden, that of N. R. van Loon. His blooms 
also won best flower in both of these shows. King Midas was best red at Minne- 
apolis. Besides the above the following were the varieties most in the limelight 
this year. We shall take them up in order, beginning with the doubles: 
WHITE AND BLUSH 
Elsa Sass still stands out as the variety that almost everywhere gives flowers 
as fine as any in the garden. Moonglow, with its pale yellow tones, ranks far up. 
Mary E. Nicholls is a pure white of the best. Marilla Beauty, with its charming 
informality of bloom and exquisite tinting is good in every garden, despite its 
somewhat weak stems. Victory is making good the predictions made about it. 
The great show flower whites are still Le Cygne and Mrs. J. V. Edlund. Kel- 
way’s Glorious is being seen more and more every year in our shows and would 
have won best flower in the show at New York except for a very slight fault on 
*one side of the bloom. If the blooms of Dorothy J. seen at Tuckdawa could have 
been shown in any one of the several shows it would probably have won over 
almost any competition. At Guelph there were magnificent flowers of Dr. F. G. 
Brethour which has not been seen since its first appearance in 1937 in such great 
form. There are three flowers which for excellence as show flowers and grand 
plants in the garden have no equals. These are Florence Nicholls, Mandaleen 
and Moonstone. It is a toss up which is best and each one has its place in any 
garden. Ramona Lins again showed its high quality, and Casablanca, with its 
immense pure white globe, was also a winner of high honors. Dr. J. H. Neeley 
as always was one of the best, as was its companion, Judge Snook. For dainti- 
ness and charm Flower Girl would be hard to excell. Mrs. Harry F. Little, Mrs. 
J. H. Neeley, Mary Auten and W. L. Gumm are flowers which have a place in 
any good garden as they can hold their own in any company. Those gloriously 
tinted flowers George W. Peyton and R. A. Napier both won high honors in their 
classes. Harry F..Little also was best flower in some gardens. Lottie Dawson 
Rea is a garden flower that few can excell. The new variety Amberglow was 
shown in splendid shape at Guelph. It is one of the exquisitely tinted flowers so 
much-desired. A variety which will doubtless come more and more into promi- 
nence is Louise Lossing, shown in excellent condition at Guelph. A. B. Frank- 
lin won its usual quota of honors. Alesia, Gertrude Gibson, Joseph Christie, 
Yosemite, Nancy Nicholls, Thura Hires, Odile and To Kalon were all blooms that 
were among the high scorers in quality and beauty. 
