The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11

a large clump will bear from elk to a
dozen blooms. 1t Is not as long
stemmed or snowy as the Chinese
peony, which begins TO develop when
the flowers Of peony oficinalis arc
fading. The nos popular and proft-
able Of peonies. however. IL peony
sinensis, known as Chinese peony.
From this peony has been developed
a great number OF varieties. the fow-
ers varying in color from white to
crimson. some varlegated. some single,
some double. All are beautiful. and
q number of the varieties emit q fra
GRANGE similar to that Of the old
fashioned juno rose, which Is the
most delicious Of the rose perfumes.
The best time to plant . bed Of
peonies is about October 1. Usu-
ally clumps Of from three to Ave eyes
are sold, the price varying from six
to eight dollars . hundred. the pop
ular colors being white. pink and red.
Some varieties show q shading Of
cream and some yellow at the base,
but q yet there arc no true yellow
The ground for . bed e. peonies
should be dug deep and we'll enriched
with thoroughly decayed manure II
Il Is a tenacious clay. add . coating
OF sand to the surface and stir II In
when digging. Set the roots in rows
three feet apart and two feet apart In
:he rows. placing them a. deep az the,
were when lifted, and heeling the sol
we'll In about them. The planting
should be done during damp or cloudy
weather II possible.
When winter comes mulch the bed
heavily with stable litter. This will
protect the plants from tho frost, and
also enrich the ground. As soon as
The plants begin to grow in the spring
go through the rows with a horse cul-
tivator and stir the manure into the
soil. Keep well cultivated Throughout,
the season. and mulch again the next
winter. The soil cannot be made too
rich for peonies. A dressing OF fresh
Stacked lime will he found beneficial
when preparing the ground. or for a
bed that has been in cultivation 10,
some time, as soil hat Is charged with
acid will sometimes cause the buds to
blight. The lime also promotes the
free development OF the buds.
The time to cut the buds for ship
ping Is Just before they open and
when they feel loose to the touch. In
cutting the buds always leave tw,
leave to the stem below. as to cut IN,
stems at the ground will inJure or ruiz
the plants. II the buds are sent to
a distant market. II Is well to wrar
each bud In tissue paper to keep 1t
from developing before II reaches it,
destination. Some varieties OF Chimes,
peonies produce a cluster of buds
upon the branch. and to secure full
development II is necessary to re-
move all except the central bud u,
the one which you wish to develop. a.
1t is customary TO have but one flower
to each stem. In shipping do not re-
move the foliage. a. most persons pur-
chasing wish tho foliage as we'll as the
flowers. The flowers II properly
packed transport well. As their sea-
son is Just before the development OF
roses. there is always a great demand
for them.-Georoe ". Park.
Three-fourths to seven-eighth of the
weight Of plants is composed Of water.
showing the necessity of irrigation by
s~prinkling or otherwise, or %conserya-
ton OF moisture by cultivation where
irrigation is not possible. Where the
water supply IL limited growth will be
slow. The liner the soil and the richer
1t is with decayed vegetable matter
the more water II will hold. An acre
Of soil a foot deep. except during
droughts. contains about $50 ton OF
water or about one-ifth OF the weight
of the soil.