Cornell University lie
says in the iiitroduction:
'It is probably a con-
servative statement to say
that tlie Peony interests
of the country would he
tetter off if ahout sev-
enty-five per cent, of the
varieties were destroyed
and future propagation
made from the remaining
twenty-five per cent, of
superior varieties. As
there are ahout two thousand varieties of Peonies,
say one thousand of them in commerce, to elim-
inate seven.ij-five per cent of them would leave
at least two hundred and fifty sorts as desirable.
We are not pleading for a long list of Peonies,
hut we contend that the merits of the Peonies that
should he perpetuated are not found in amj one
hundred varieties.
SIX POINTS OF EXCELLENCE
In judging a Peoinj for exhibition the six points
of excellence as suggested by the Directors of the
American Peonvj Society are as follows:
Color 20 points.
Size 20
Stem (including length, strength and ioliage) 20
Form 15
Substance 1 3
Fragrance 10
Too
Mr. Auten of Missouri makes a good suggestion
when he says, There is one character on which I
think there should be a rating outside of merely
technical points. In declamation contests a rating
is given on 'General Effect ; in flowers I would
give a rating on 'Charm . For example, I do not
know how, on technical points, Festiva could
be counted any more than equal to Festiva
Maxima if even equal to it; however, it makes an
appeal to me that Festiva Maxima does not. The
latter has siie, form, color and carriage, all unsur-
passable; but to me it is cold and forbidding; it
commands admiration, yes, but when I see a fine
opening bud of Festiva I want it. This has a charm
for me, makes an appeal to me that Festiva Maxima
does not." May we add that there is certainly a
charm about some varieties of Peonies? In addition
to Festiva, such varieties as Marie Stuart, Alsace-
Lorraine, Monsieur Dupont and others possess an
Mis's Ella V . Baines, Springfield, Ohio.