Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-06-02
PEoNY IS POPULAR FAvoRlTE
Il 10 Hardy, Easy Of Culture and
Lends Itself Well to seautify.
ing Of Home.

Among all our herbaceous plants
there is perhaps not one that stands
higher in popular favor than the
peony. And it richly deserves ita
popularity because of its great hardi
ness, its ease Of culture, its magnid
cent range of rich and delicate col
ors, its wonderful profusion Of bloom
and its tenacity Of life.
The writer knows many specimens
of the old variety cultivated exten
sively by our grandmothers. oficinalis
rubra plena, that have been growing
in the same place in the old gardens
for more than half q century and
without exception those that nave re-
ceived good care are as vigorous and
healthy today as any young plants,
and year after year they give crop
OF glorious fine flowers. Many of
these old plants have grown to be
clumps five and six feet across and
one can often count hundreds Of bios
SONS and buds In various stages OF
development on each plant.
Such plants as these are what are
needed to make the attractions OF a
garden permanent. There is no other
hardy herbaceous plant which can be
used with such fine effect in the Dor
der.
Scattered here and there among
shrubbery it produces a most satisfac-
tory show of color at time, when
most shrubs are not in bloom.
Probably. however, it is most strik-
ingly effective when planted in large
beds. If it can be given back
ground Of evergreens. its rich colors
show up to great advantage. Shrub
berry Of any kind as a background
brings its colors into strong relief and
one should always plant if possible
with that aim in view. II partially
shaded all the better. The culture
of the peony is simple in the extreme.
1t does best in q rather stiff loan. pre-
ferring it to a lighter soil. because
it likes to feel the earth firm about
Its roots.
While 1t prefers such soil, it will
do very well indeed in sandy loan,
or almost any soil, provided it is
rich in the elements Of plant develop
ment. To grow good peonies one must
make good use of fertilizers, prefer
ably old, well rotted COW manure. Tn.
less this is done you cannot expect a
vigorous growth Of stalks and foliage
and generous crops Of large richly
colored flowers.
It is hardly possible to use too much
manure about it, If 1t is old enough
to be black and crumbles easily un.
der the application Of the hoe. 1t
should be dug into the soil about
the roots of the plants, taking care,
however, not to dig close or Geep
enough to disturb them.
There il no plant that resents dis
turbance of its roots more. Dig into
a clumb to secure q toe" for neigh.
Dor and very often the parent plant
will refuse to bloom the following sea-
son. So hardy is the peony that il
is not necessary to give it winter
protection at the extreme north II
it's roots are put deep into the ground
II given shallow planting the frost
will often leave them badly unless
covered with coarse manure or mulch
Of some kind.
The roots ought to be at least six
inches beneath the surface. While
winter protection is not necessary. Il
Is advisable because 1t prevents tax.
ing the vitality of the plant excessive
" in its efforts to Withstand q severe
winter.