Evening star., 1927-05-21
SHOW PEONIES

The following timely information is
taken directly from an article by
Harry f. Little of Goodlaud, Ind, in
Bulletin q Of the American Peony
Society.
a few davs before the early valie-
ties are ready to bloom the plants
should be carefully gone over and
the strongest most promising buds
OF the varieties wanted for show
selected a small paper bag-ihe
crocer's common half pound size is
best--should be slipped over each
bud. and secured in place by small
rubber band twisted about the
mouth Of the bag below the bud Just
tight enough to prevent the bag from
being blown away by the wind. After
The rubber band is in place care
should be taken to pull the bag Wen
tlp against the under side OF the bud,
Otherwise the subsequent growth ot
the stem. especially the later Varie-
ties. will force the bud up against
the bottom of The bag ana result
in a warped or crooked stem The
purpose Of sarl5ing the buds is two
fold. First the bags protect the
maturing buds from damage from
rain or sun, and second. they fur
nish an ideal wrapping FOR flowers
later on when. in n partly developed
state. they must he packed for ship
ping
After all the bags are in place, n
wired wooden tree label, with the
name Of the variety plainly written
thereon. should he attached to the
stem under each bud we'll above the
foliage. Bv thus permanently label
ing each bud before it is cut from
the plant much labor and confusion
IL,
able. VIII he saved,
The wooden tree labels are the
most satisfactory labels to use be
cause they are substantial enough
tn Withstand possible damage in
shipping and are not affected by
water.
"As the first flowers begin TO open
close attention must be given 10 the
sacked buds. for the whole secret of
successful storage of the blooms is In
cutting the blooms at just the right
stage. Both the length Of the time
blooms are to be held. and the type of
flower or the variety must he taken
into consideration. Assuming the
flowers are wanted for showing. say.
two or three days after the close OF
the blooming season, it would then
he necessary to hold the earlier
varieties in the cold storage about
three weeks, and the midseason kinds
for week or 10 days. BY watching
the exposed buds on the plants, and
bv feeling the buds under the bags
one viii quickly learn the feel of the
buds ready 10 CUT Early varieties, |
such as Imbrellata Rosea, Grandi- |
flora NiVea Plena and EdulIS Superba.
should be cut Just as the bods show
marked color and begin TO feel the
first indication of softenIng. Mid |
season varieties, such as Frances Will |
lard and Lady Alexandra Duff, and, |
I'm fact. most of the varieties except |
the very latest, should be cut at the |
stage Just when the petals in the buds |
begin TO grow and loosen and before |
the first petals begin to unfold. Late |
varieties such as Marie Lemoine, Mil |
ton Hill and Enchantress must be left |
on the plants until almost at the half
open stage Single, Japanese an |
Semi-double varieties Of scant petal |
age should be cut in tighter bud than |
the full rose types, such as Therese
or Jubilee. Very compact. full-petaled |
varieties as Indispensable and Ma |
RE Lemoinea must be allowed TO de- |
velop proportionately longer on the
plants.
"As the buds reach the proper
15 or IS inches long and all foliage
stripped o. Longer stems on show
flowers, unless they are to be shown
in large punches or in bouquets, are
superfiu0us, and the extra foliage can
we'll be left on the plants. All buds
of a variety. even on the same plant, |
do not develop evenly, so it may be |
necessary to make cuttings of the |
same variety at two or three different |
times. AS fast as cut the buds should |
he placed in jars of water in cool |
basement. where the varieties can be |
sorted and tied together for conven- |
ience in handling. Each evening the |
days cutting should be taken to the |
cold storage room, and placed. with !
stems well submerged, in jars of water |
TO remain undisturbed until time for |
shipment.
Probably the best storage temper
eture IS an average of 30 degrees. al. |
though lower temperature has seem
ed to give equally good results. At 40 |
degrees, most varieties, and especially |
those cut in tight bud. will remain al |
most dormant, while other kinds will |
slowly develop until the immense
blooms fill the half-pound bags almost |
to the bursting point