THE PEONY ROSE

New Zealand Mail, 5 February 1902, Page 15

THE PEONY ROSE

The peony is a delicate plant, writes J. Condor, in the “Floral Art of Japan,” and is cultivated in long, sheltered beds, generally forming the parterre to some adjoining chamber, from which its magnificent blossoms can be viewed. In the grounds of the wealthy it is subjected to scrupulous care and nursing, in order to produce flowers of enormous size and fulness, often so large and heavy as to need artificial supiiort. It is regarded as the flower queen of China, and is essentially, the favourite of the upper classes in Japan. The peony was first imported into Japan in the eighth century, and was there chiefly cultivated in the provinces of Yamato and Yamdshiro. Even now the finest specimens m Tokio are brought from the neighbourhood of the old capital, Nara. The largest blossoms measure as much as ni n e i nc I bes acroSSl Peony is sometimes called the flower of prosperity; another fancy namo by which it is known is the plant of twenty days, because it is said to preserve its beauty and freshness for that period of time. Of the large tree peony, called “botan,” there are ninety different kinds, and of the small plant peony, having single blossoms and called “Shakuyaku,” there are said to exist 500 varieties. . . Among colours, the red and white are most valued, purple and yellow specimens, though rare, oemg less prized. This exuberant flower, with its large, curling petals, is a favourite subject for design and decoration. Its companions in art are tne peacock, the golden pheasant and the shisln, a kind of conventional lion derived from Chinese designs; in suck company it forms the constant decoration of temple and palace walls.