top off. It would be a great
mistake to do so. Your peony growth does not complete its development
until about the middle of September, and if you cut the top off just as
soon as the plant has blossomed you are going to have a great many of
them rot. We had a very striking illustration of this two years ago.
Just as our peony season was closing we had a severe hailstorm which cut
our peony beds right off down to the ground. We couldn't save the tops
if we had wanted to. That fall when we dug our roots it was almost
impossible to fill our orders, because the roots were in such terrible
shape. The tops were removed before they ought to have been.

Talking about disappointments with peonies, I think the peony I was most
impressed with of all the seedlings we have had came good but once. That
was eleven or twelve years ago. As I look back upon it I think this was
the most beautiful flower we ever grew, but it never came good but that
once. I was so impressed with its beauty that I took it from where it
bloomed in the seedbed and planted it at my house in the garden. When it
came on to bloom, it was a disappointment and has been such ever since.
I still keep it, hoping that some year it may bloom again as it did that
first year.

Mr. Harrison: Not a bit of it. They are the most lying vegetable on the
face of the earth. May I ask if Mr. Peterson, of Chicago, is here? He is
an expert peony man. I presume we will all like to hear from him.

Mr. Peterson: I haven't anything to add; if you want to ask questions I
will be glad to answer them.

The President: Ladies and gentlemen, you probably know that Mr. Peterson
is one of the expert peony men of the United States. In fact, as far as
fifteen years back we were able to get some of the newer and better
varieties from this gentleman. I never had the pleasure of meeting him,
but we want to meet you, Mr. Peterson. You have all heard of Mr.
Peterson, the peony man of Chicago and a life member of this society.
(Applause.)

Mr. Peterson: I have nothing to add. I have been in the game a good many
years. We have systematically kept track of over three hundred varieties
since 1888, so that it may be if you have any questions to ask I might
be able to answer them, and I would be glad to. The proposition that
Mr. Brand has stated is actually within the facts. We have raised
thousands of seedlings, and not one of them do we now grow. You see some
of the Peterson seedlings listed in othe