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Show &Lli) TkcirTare arvcl Cultivatiorv. CSS) Carnations Are Attractive Flowers in the Garden Easy to Grow and i Beautiful. i A WORD ABOUT PEONIES Peonies should be planted 1n the autumn early If they are to do well the first year, October being the best time for the work. They are not too particular as to soil; but in every case this should be well dug to the depth of 18 Inches, enriching it with manure, which should not, however, be allowed to come in contact con-tact with the root in planting, but rather be mixed with the top soil, at the distance of a few inches from the plant. . Peonies are propagated bolh by seed and by division; the former plan, however, is lengthy and troublesome, as the majority of a batch of hybrids will be found worthless, and a large plot of ground is necessary as a place of trial. They can only be obtained true to name by division of the roots; but this should not be attempted until the plant has been in one place for two or three years, as they do much better when undisturbed, when it will mature ma-ture fine shoots, which year by year increase in size until the peonies become be-come one of the grandest sights in the garden. During a drought in summer (particularly (par-ticularly when the plant is young) an occasional soaking with water will benefit the peony, and every spring (in March) a mulch of rich soil or hotbed material should be laid over its roots. When peonies are grown in a separate sep-arate bed an edging of daffodils will be effective with the crimson shoots of the peonies in April. The foliage of many of these plants turns in autumn au-tumn to various shades of purple, bronze and crimson, when the plants again become decorative; and It is a mistake to cut off the foliage of the peony directly after flowering, as it is necessary to the plant while maturing ma-turing its growth for next season and makes a mass of not undecorative green. Tall lilies can be grown between the peonies in a border, choosing the hardiest varieties for a cold situation. These will make their way between the foliage of the peonies and look very handsome after the peonies cease to bloom. Other suitable plants for massing with peonies are the tall blue and white delphiniums, Campanula persi-cifolia persi-cifolia (in blue or white), pyrethrums, aquilegias, etc., all of which are perennials. Carnations are attractive attrac-tive massed with peonies, and will do well with the same cultivation as the peonies. For a bouquet for the home, these' splendid flowers are unique when cut with long stems and arrange in a bowl with plenty of their own foMage to set them off. |