PLANTING AND TRANSPLANTING 51 



taken through the roots from the soil. This condition is especially 

 true in the clay loam soils of the middle west. 



They should never be watered with any water which contains lime. 

 This is equally as important as the necessity of not planting rhodo- 

 dendrons in a limestone soil. It matters not how much the soil may be 

 changed in the beds or how much leaf mold may be put in the beds 

 in which to plant rhododendrons if the water with which they are 

 frequently soaked comes from a limestone region. 



Rhododendrons will grow in any good garden soil, but they much 

 prefer a soil with a good deal of humus in it, and they should be thor- 

 oughly mulched with leaf mold soil which should never be cultivated, 

 but left in its native woodland condition. 



Transplanting Annuals. It is preferable to transplant annuals in 

 a fine, loose loam, and never to transplant them in a heavier clay soil, 

 which will pack and dry out. Upon the size of the plants will depend 

 the care that it is necessary to give them immediately after trans- 

 planting. The smaller the plants the more care will be required in 

 careful watering and shading during the hot portions of the day. 

 While with proper care annuals may be transplanted at any season 

 during the spring or early summer, yet the late spring (May through 

 June 15th) is preferred. Annuals will develop best outdoors if they 

 are transplanted at least two weeks in advance of the hot summer 

 months. Frequent shifting, in pots or flats, is very beneficial through 

 promoting the growth of fibrous roots which make transplanting more 

 successful. 



