The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-05
THE TREE PEONY.
A Noble Flower That Ia Being Guilt
vatcd In England to Some Extent.
Ii aa Iy

A Noble Flower That Is Being Guilt
vatod In England to Some Extent.
The noblest flower of the summer season
is the tree peony, and those who have not
got it in their gardens should try and find
room for 1t. For considerable more than a
thousand years it has been cultivated by
the Chinese, and they have raised hun.
dreds OF magnificent varieties and kept
them carefully, SO that they did not pnss
out OF the country.
In Japan also it is great flower, and
like the chrysanthemum and the iris IL
abundant in that country In many fine
FORMS some of which are now ut last being
brought to us. BE- fortunately we are
not entirely dependent upon such uncer-
tain sources for our plants, as for some
years past English and continental raisers
have been ut work upon the tree peony,
and they have been rewarded with some
sterling productions.
The first tree peony was brought into
this country rather more than 100 years
ago through the instrumentality Of Sir
Joseph Banks. who had heard of its exist
ence and popularity in Chinese gardens A
row others were obtained later on, but
down to 1850 there were not dozen dis
tinct kinds in cultivation. In recent
years. however, the flower has been great
~ improved. Doubtless there arc great
many kinds much alike, but there are also
magnificent varieties that we ought to
possess and grow as we do good roses
Among the carly varieties that came to
this country was ono with single flowers
which were white, with dark crimson
stain ut tho base OF the petals. This was
and still Is supposed to be the type and
parent OF the now humorous and lovely
progeny In existence. Occasionally, and
often when least expected, one meets with
grand plant OF this and similarly
colored double lowered variety.
a short time back, when passing along
the road in u remote country district we
saw two magnificent plants of this kind
one on each side of the walk leading up to
farmhouse. They were each more than
four feet in height, almost as much in d.
ameter and bearing scores OF blooms
Many years must elnpse before specimen
OF such dimensions Is obtained, for al
though tree peonies grow vigorously
enough three parts of the growth die back
each season To where a prominent bud Is
formed.
One great point In their favor, however,
Is that they commence to bloom in quite a
young state. and plants that are little
more thnn one foot high will bear four or
five great flowers, and these, with the am
pie foliage that clothes the shoots, make
even small plants appear OF considerable
size In their summer dress. Above all
plants they need good culture, and us
when once planted they are very impatient
of disturbance at the root thorough
preparation OF the site should be made.
Some care must also be exercised in
choosing the position. for, though the
plants are in every respect hardy they
start into growth so soon that frost some
times Injuries the young shoots. The risk
OF this is obviated by choosing site
where the early morning sun does not
shine upon the plants, several degrees of
frost not having the slightest effect upon
the shoots il they thaw gradually. 1t is
an easy matter to arrange some temporary
framework, over which canvas or some
other light protecting material could DO
thrown should frost come during the crit
zeal time of young growth. In winter pro-
lection must not on any account be given
The aim should rather be to retard growth,
and even then it will start quite soon
enough.-London Graphic