Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-11-09
Growing Peonies.

While the peony may be grown in any
ordinary garden it will give much bet
ter bigger blooms if the soil for the bed
be prepared as follows: Make an exca-
walton the full size of the bed and two
feet in depth, according to the character
OF the subsoil. If this is of a loamy
nature and of such texture as will hold
the moisture well aud permit the growth
of an abundant root system, .excavate
to the depth of two feet and put layer
of thoroughly well rotted cow manute
ON the bottom to the depth of six inches
and well spaded in.
If the soil is stiff and clayey it should
be lightened by the addition of sand.
leaf mould and perfectly rotted manure
IN proportion of one-third of each TO
two-thirds of soil This should be turn
ed over two or three times until thor
oughly mixed. Fill up the excavation
with this soil, rounding it at the center,
which should stand about eight inches
above the level of the lawn.
In case the soil at the bottom of the
bed is very light and sandy or hard
and clayey, or gravelly, the bed should
be dug to the depth of three feet and the
old soil thrown out and replaced by a
special compost.
In setting the plants give them
abundant room to develop. This will re
quire a space of three feet each way for
every one put out. Place the crowns
two and half to three inches below the
surface of the soil and form the earth
well around it.
After the bed has been planted mulch
il with three or four inches of coarse
strawy manure, or that which contains
a large proportion of forest leaves.
In the spring do not dig around the
roots vigorously, as they are resentful
of disturbance and will probably show
it by refusing to bloom for another
year. After the growth mas been well
advanced it may be carefully cultivated
and should be kept free from weeds.
1t is better to sacrifice the blooms of
the first year TO the strength of the
plant This is no great hardship as the
peony has been known to flower for
over half century, increasing in
strength and beauty with each succeed
| ing yer.
Weed carefully this first season and
| give plenty of water. A does Of liquid
manure once a week will prove bene-
| fetal. The third year after planting the
ground viii be so densely shaded by the
| foliage so that comparatively few weeds
will grow and these may easily be re-
moved. Some growers give their peonie.ss
a mulch of leaves during q dry april
or May to preserve the moisture.
Each fall, after the ground has be-
come frozen. cut down the tops of the
peonies to within 3 inches of the ground
and throw them back on the beds for
a mulch. Also give a liberal dressing of
coarse manure as previously advised.
The roots should not be disturbed for
five years after being planted, then they
may be carefully divided to form new
plants.
When lifting the roots for dividing.
great care should be taken TO prevent
the small pink eyes or buds from being
broken off, otherwise il will require a
year before the roots can grow another
set in their place. As peony roots are
very brittle they should be allowed to
stand in the sun for n few hours to
tougher them so they do not break 50
easily in cutting. Allow two eyes 70
each piece of root.
Growing of peonies from seed is not
advisable except for the veritabe enthu-
siast as it takes fully five years of watt
ing to see results and then they may be
far from satisfactory.
The old flower stalks should be cut
off to prevent the plant being exhausted
by the formation of seed. To make
large flowers sacrifice the lateral buds:
to produce later bloom pinch out the
terminal one.
Peonies may be planted either in solid
beds by thems elves, as specimen plants.
or in the mixed border. In the first case
there should be in the same bed early
blooming bulbs, and lilies, gladioli and
tuberous rooted begonias to give a
creditable appearance TO the bed after
the all-too-short period of the peOnies
Towering is past.-EXehange.