56 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



analysis, with information derived from men experienced in 

 the cultivation of the soil, is a far safer guide. A soil may 

 be made to meet the requirements of Rhododendrons by 

 draining it or by adding humus in some form ; but it must 

 be non-calcareous. Soils on which the Spanish Chestnut, 

 Birch, Conifers, particularly Pinus pinaster, thrive, are not 

 unlikely to suit Rhododendrons. The important points to 

 be remembered are that Rhododendrons are moisture-loving 

 plants, which dislike stagnation at the roots, and are quite 

 happy in any soil that does not contain lime. Annual 

 mulchings of dead leaves or well-rotted manure serve the 

 double purpose of providing nourishment to the roots and 

 preventing the escape of moisture from the soil. When 

 they are cultivated in tubs or pots, there is no difficulty in 

 providing a suitable compost. A mixture of leaf-mould, 

 peat, light loam, and sand suits all the stronger-growing 

 kinds, but the loam should be omitted for Indian Azaleas 

 and the smaller-growing sorts. 



Where the soil of a garden or park is not suitable for 

 Rhododendrons, beds formed of fresh soil must be made. 

 The right way to do this is, not to make a hole and 

 fill it with the prepared soil, but to form a mound large 

 enough to accommodate the plants and to retain moisture. 

 Much money has been spent in excavating beds and fill- 

 ing them with a peaty mixture. The Rhododendrons will 

 thrive in this until the lime from the surrounding soil im- 

 pregnates the bed, and then the plants are bound to suffer. 

 When the soil for the Rhododendrons is placed above the 

 level of the rest, there is little danger of the lime affect- 

 ing it. 



