Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-08
FASHIONS AND FADS.
.PL ANTING PEONIES
FOR NEXT SEASON

..Pinies'' the country people call them,
but under any name they would pe
among the most satisfactory OF hardy
plants. The peony will live almost any
where but in order to have large, me
flowers the ground must be very rich and
kept moist during the growing season OF
the plant. Many disappointment over
the lack of bloom may be traced to the
fact that the roots were allowed to dry
out lust before the buds began to open.
The way to be successful with these flow
ers is to select suitable location. thor
oughly dig over and enrich the soil, set
out the plants in the fall. and then to let
them grow on for years without being
disturbed.
Peonies may be set out from the first of
August until the end of October, accord
ing to the latitude. September is about
be we'll to place your order now. giving
the nurseryman ample time to fill 1t. OF
course flowers will be wanted next sea-
son. and to make certain of them good
strong roots should be secured even
though the price is little higher than
for poorer ones. Four-year-old clumps
should give from eight to ten blossoms,
but are rather expensive. as rule. New
plants may be started by dividing the
roots of well established specimens now
in the garden.
Fresh manure should not be placed near
the roots when the peony is planted but
it is well to mix plenty of old, well
rotted manure. or else pulverized sheep
manure with the SOIL The roots should
be planted that the eyes will be from
two to three inches below the surface
The flowers produced next season may
not be typical of those which the plant
will yield when fully established SO it
should not be judged by them.
Peonies are divided into three sec
tons: first. the old-fashioned kind, which
blooms earliest: then the double Chinese
peony, which is the best. and the sort
now most widely grown. and, finally the
tree peony. which may be grown on the
lawn as a specimen or in masses. and is
very handsome There are hundreds of
varieties in different shades of red and
pink in white and In combinations. And
any reliable nurSeryman will help make
up a list of varieties which will give a
season of bloom lasting for weeks Many
of the flowers are fragrant and will keen
well if placed in cool cellar for several
hours before being taken into the room
where they are to be displayed
The peony has several advantages be
sides it's wonderful beauty 1t is abso-
lutely hardy. is little troubled by insect
pests or diseases. and will thrive in par
tial shade. The one point to be remem-
bered is that it must be literally fed, for
1t exacts heavy toll from the soil. In the
fall after the ground freezes, a mulch of
manure should be spread around the
plant. being dug into the ground in the
spring Then, with plenty of water,
generous yield of superb flowers is almost
certain.
After the blossoms are gone the plant
still retains its handsome foliage and
makes new roots to store up food for the
next season. That being SO, the peony
may be given a conspicuous situation. for
the foliage itself is attractive Landscape
architects use this plant freely, especially
for situations which are somewhat
shaded.
Probably the best known variety of the
peony is festiva maxima, which has enor-
nous flowers of the purest white, but
with the inner petals tipped with bright
crimson: This is not an expensive sort:
the newer kinds are priced as high as
$40. The cost of well grown peony roots
may seem bit high, but it should be