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This year at the American Peony show in Mansneld, Ohio, my Japanese tree peonies were superb. The rain pro- duced heavy textured petals and the low temperatures made for strong upright growth. The result was that they won The American Peony Society award for the best collection of 10 dif- ferent tree peonies. I have not won this class for many years so it was quite exciting. There were many new vari- eties among the new seedling exhibits. One very large flower, a pink Japanese tree peony was a hit. The best in the show was won by an Itoh hybrid which is a cross between a lutea tree peony and a herbaceous peony. This is the first 'Best in Show' for this type of peony as they are late blooming and peonies entered but usually the entries are about the same number each year (Continued from page 13) 'Royal' peony collection to be planted Evergreens may be pruned to slow growth and to make them denser by removing about a half of the new growth. Removing all the new growth rare. The winner was grown in Kansas. A major 'tribute' herbaceous peony collection is to be planted at the Royal Botanical Garden's Laking Garden this fall. It will include many of the newer hybrids including plants produced by a major breeder in the United States. Pruning As the early flowering shrubs lose their blooms they may be pruned with- out harming next year's show. Some candidates are forsythia. Bridal Wreath spiraea weigelia, viburnums. Remove a few of the older branches at ground level, cut back long branches to just above a crotch. Rhododendrons and lilacs should have the old flower head removed leaving the bud just below to produce next year's flowers. may prevent growth next year and adversely affect the shape and health of the tree. Birch Leaf Miner The last week in June is the time to treat the birch trees to prevent the sec- ond attack of birch leaf miner. The trees around south-east Oakville seem to have little damage from the first attack as there are few brown leaves around. This may mean that the popu- lation of the sawflies that lay the eggs is down this year. If this is so it may not be necessary to treat the tree a sec- ond time. If your tree shows many brown leaves paint the trunk with Cygon 2E (dimethoate) or spray the foliage around the last week of June or early July. If it was treated by the ground method this will control the second attack without repetition. Follow the package directions. Botrytis on the peony stems so far If the disease becomes serious affecting many plants or if there are small plants to be protected spray them every ten days with benomyl alternated with captan. If not treated young plants may lose their only growth and die. Sometimes they may send up new shoots next year. Damp weather and poor air circulation encourages the dis- ease. As it persists over winter in debris stems and leaves should be cleaned up in the fall, burned in the fireplace or put in the garbage. has been most p peonies. Single st denly wilt. Just al of the branch appears. This we the stem. The ste treatment is to re infected stems peonies the infe ground level. rst prevalent on the tree le stems or branches sud- st above the joining point ch a brown soft area prevents the sap rising in ) stem Wilts and dies. The 0 remove and destroy the 'tns. With herbaceous infection takes place at m DJ D N Cu