cultivation and care, how it is multiplied and how the new sorts are
produced.

Right here at the start I wish to correct an erroneous impression about
the peony that has been spread broadcast throughout the land by means of
not too carefully edited catalogues and misinformed salesmen.

We often hear an agent say or we read in some catalogue, "When you have
the peony planted all is done." Now this is not true. It comes a long
ways from being true. I think the very results which the following out
of this belief have brought about are accountable for the production of
more poor peonies than all other causes put together. The peony, it is
true, will stand more abuse than any other flower you can name and still
give fairly good results, but if you want good peonies you must take
good care of them.

The planting season opens about the first of September in
Minnesota--probably the middle of the month is safer--and it continues
right up to the freeze-up in the fall and up to the middle of May in the
spring. We have lifted peonies that have grown a foot in the spring,
packed them carefully, shipped them to middle Wisconsin, and in the fall
had the shipment reported as having done splendidly. September planted
roots will bloom the following season. After that there is little choice
between fall and spring planting.

The peony root will stand lots of abuse after being thoroughly ripe, but
still it is best to handle it with care. Keep it fresh and plump until
planted. If accidentally it becomes shriveled, immerse for twenty-four
hours in a pail of water. This will revive it. Remove from the water and
plant immediately. The roots should be planted with the tops of the buds
from two to three inches below the surface--not more than three inches
at the most.

Many times you will notice that you have a nice, thrifty looking plant,
but that it does not bloom. Nine times out of ten if you examine into
the matter you will find that your plant was set from six to eight
inches deep--and this is why it didn't bloom. Another cause of peonies
not blooming is their being planted in lawns where the soil is
impoverished by the roots of large trees.

The common method of propagation of established varieties is by
division. Grafting is resorted to by professionals in some instances,
but that does not interest us here.

The peony will do well in any well drained soil, though a rich sandy
loam is the best. It will give splendid results in h