If your soil is very heavy, well-rotted manure, 
peat moss or leaf mold are particularly important 
to help loosen it and provide aeration and drain- 
age. 
If sandy, your soil is likely to be deficient in plant 
food, and again well-rotted manure is important, 
probably with commercial fertilizer added. A 
good formula, about 5-10-5, or 4-8-4, 
If your soil is very acid, use a little lime, say 3 to 
5 lbs. per 100 square feet. However, Peonies 
really like a mildly acid soil. 
The addition of fertilizer at soil preparation time 
has just been discussed. However, for really beau- 
tiful Peonies, extra fertilizing is really very de- 
sirable. It can be applied in the form of com- 
mercial fertilizer, in the spring after the first 
shoots have appeared above ground. Apply the 
fertilizer around the plant, keeping 4 or 5 inches 
away from it, then work it in by light hoeing: 
or use some other form of garden tool. Phosphor- 
ous and potash fertilizers are particularly im- 
portant for good blooming. Apply liberally. 
Some gardeners, instead of the above, apply well- 
rotted stable manure as a mulch after the ground 
freezes in the fall, then the fertility is carried 
into the soil and is available by springtime. Even 
then, a little extra commercial fertilizer will not 
hurt, again about 5-10-95. 
HOW TO PLANT: Proper depth is very im- 
portant in planting Peonies. Some say do not 
plant more than 3 inches deep, but it is better to 
say 2 inches from the top of the root to the sur- 
a of the soil, Even shallower planting can be 
used, 
However, with this shallow planting, there is 
danger of winter injury brought about by heav- 
ing of the soil. To prevent this heaving, mound 
loose soil well over the plants about 3 inches 
deep, then mulch well with good strawy material 
to a depth of about 4 inches, particularly if you 
-are in a northern state. Remove the surplus soil 
and mulching in the spring, carefully. This is 
necessary the first year only. 
If you plant the proper depth, you should have 
blooms the following summer; but plant too 
deeply, and your Peonies may not bloom for 
years. 
TIME TO PLANT: September or October is 
usually best. November is OK, if you plant well 
ahead of freezing, but how are you going to 
know when freezing will come? Some nurseries 
do offer Peonies in the spring, but spring plant- 
ing is not really advisable). PLANTING DIS- 
TANCE: About 3 feet apart. 
CULTIVATION: Cultivation keeps weed growth 
down; conserves moisture; and keeps the soil 
aerated, preventing many diseases. Hoe or culti- 
vate to a depth of not over 2 inches. 
DISBUDDING: This is the practice of removing 
weaker buds so that the stronger buds can develop 
into a huge, beautiful flower. If you are going to 
disbud, do it as early as possible, removing all 
side buds from each stem, leaving only one cen- 
tral strong bud to develop. You will be rewarded 
by extra size, and extra double flowers, maybe 
prize winners. For landscape effect, do not disbud. 
WINTER CARE: Needed for the first year only. 
Already discussed under “How to Plant.” 
At the end of the season, after killing frost, cut 
foliage down and burn it. 
SUPPORTING FLOWERS: Best varieties often 
have weak stems. For supports, drive several 
stakes around the plant, then stretch string or 
(Continued on page 22) 
Astilbe 
Queen 
Alexandra 
One of those flowers that 
arouses much flattering com- 
ment; a beautiful June-and- 
July blooming flower with 
beautiful delicately colored, 
cameo-pink panicles. Grow 
24 to 30 inches high. Plant 
1}— to 18 inches “apart in 
moist, rich soil. Water. Sun 
or semi-shade. 


















PRICES 
1 for $0.75 A for $2.40 
2for 1.30 6 for 3.50 
3for 1.85 12for 6.80 
Gaillardia 
Goblin 
Bursting with brilliance. 
Unique, low-growing (12 
to 15 in.). Beautifully 
shaped and covered with 
large, 2- to 24-inch 
blanket flowers, rich in 
glowing shades of red and 
golden yellow. July, Sept. 
Plant 12 inches apart; well 
drained soil; sun; ordinary 
moisture. 
PRICES 
Wforaac. ste eae $0.55 
ZAL OU Mieco an est: .80 
a {ote ma: 1.00 
AS Otae te ees s 1.30 
O:fOteen mee es 1.90 
Day Lilies 
Five Favorites: 
HYPERION. Citron-yel- 
low. 40 in. tall. 
OPHIR. Orange-yellow. 
Stems 314 to 4 ft. high. 
GYPSY. Gay splash- 
es of red on yel- 
low petals. 
ANNA BETSCHER. 
Rich golden  yel- 
low. Blooms late 
July and August. 
21% to 3 ft. 
D. D. WYMAN. 
Golden yellow, 
tawny splashed 
petals. 21% to 3 ft. 
July and August. 
Prices: (Choice) 
(Above) Gaillardia, Goblin 
fot. $0.75 
DEtOte ea 1.30 
Stfors. ye 1.85 
5storse. 2: 2.95 
10 for ..... 5.70 
{19} Day 
Lily 
