TREE PAEONIES IN JAPAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20870, 9 November 1929, Page 7

TREE PAEONIES IN JAPAN.

From ancient times the tree paeony has been called “the King of Flowers” in the East. The history of the tree paeony is long and interesting, but it is not my intention to deal with it in this note. The tree paeonies are much appreciated in gardens, or as pot plants, and widely cultivated from southern Japan to so far,north as Hokkaido, where heavy protection is needed in winter, Yamamoto of Settsu province and Koaimura of Echigo province have enjoyed a hundred-year-old reputation for the culture of paeonies and the raising of new varieties. The extensive tree paeony garden at Sukagawa, in northern Japan, is noted for its many aged and giant plants and numerous varieties. One hundred years old—and even older—plants freely produce their flowers annually, and are not rare in the garden. The oldest plant is presumed to be 180 (or 190) years old. The trunk is hollowed, and one/side is decayed, but it grows vigorously. The largest one is about 10 feet in height and 13 feet in width. The circumference of the trunk v at nine inches from the ground is one foot 11 inches. The garden is open to the public by the generosity of Mr Gentaro Yaginuma, the owner, whose life has been devoted to the cultivation and collection of varieties of Eaeonia Moutan or “ the Botan.” Mr Sinzaemon Tanaka’s work on the hybridisation of the tree paeonies is much admired, and his name will be long remembered as that of a great raiser 'of tree paeonies. 'Mr Tanaka commenced raising varieties in 1894, after he learned the method from the Rono Zasshi {then a leading agricultural Journal in Japan). Since then, after many difficulties and failures,' he has raised nearly 250 varieties. The following are a few of the best he has raised:—Hakua, Haku-Unyro, NagoyaJo, Hoo-Jo, Kanyo-Kiu, Kinpai, and Godaishu. He is now 81 years old, but his enthusiasm is unabated; indeed, he works with undiminiahed energy and interest, raising and cultivating with his own hands. He is very tranquil regarding rewards—the work is his great interest. Tree paeonies like well-drained, loamy soil, enriched with well-decayed manure. Too compact soil should be avoided since it retains water on the surface! Tree paeonies form and expand their flower buds very early in the year, so that autumn planting ia preferable, iney dislike disturbance, as we know by bitter experience when old plants are moved; they fail to grow in the year following, and their branches and trunks will often die back. Tree paeonies are not uniform in growth, therefore strong shoots should be shortened in autumn and they will then form two moderate branches and flowers the next year. Consequently, symmetrical growth is obtained. . They are rather gross feeders, and one readily detects the difference between well-manured or semi-starved plants. When planting take* place, pulverised rape cake—used for chrysanthemums, azaleas, morning glories, dwarfed trees, and for nearly all the plants cultivated; it is much prized and widely used, and is far better than bean cake—is scattered over the surface of the ground. This should be applied in winter and just after the flowering period is finished. This manure damages the root fatally when placed in the soil instead of being scattered on the surface.—The Gardeners’ Chronicle,