Acid-Loving Plants 
he hardwood forests of the South and West are the habitat 
X of many plants that must be most carefully nurtured else¬ 
where. Among these are the Dogwood, Rhododendrons, Cypripe- 
diums or Lady Slippers, Azaleas, Camellias, Mountain Laurel, An¬ 
dromeda, Blueberry, Tar Flower, Pitcher Plants, Sundews, Sweet 
Bay, Bayberry, Ink or Gallberry, and many others, all of which 
will thrive in soil that is properly prepared. 
Azaleas are one of the most difficult plants to grow success¬ 
fully in all sections of the land, due to the fact that they demand 
the superlative degree of acidity in the soil in which they are to 
grow, and wherever lime, even in small quantities, is present the 
life of any, especially this, acid-loving plant is endangered. There¬ 
fore those precautions that are taken to exclude the seepage of 
lime into the acid-soil bed (see page 14) are particularly advised 
when one attempts to have Azaleas in calcareous soil. 
In sections where sand or clay is the predominant soil, the depth 
to which the hole that is to receive the acid-loving plant is to 
be dug varies from eighteen to twenty-four inches, dependent 
on the degree of compactness of the soil. Light sandy soil requires 
the removal of at least twenty inches more, a deeper hole. Break 
up the subsoil for about a foot in depth, and add to it acid, peaty 
soil, and some clay. Acid, peaty soil may be secured by various 
means, as natural muck (from marshes); peat-moss (in bales, 
usually); leaf-mold (from under hardwood trees such as Oak, 
Hemlock, Sweet Gum, Maple, Magnolia, Hickory, Cypress and 
some cedars); well-rotted wood, bark or sawdust of these trees, to 
which is added some peat-moss and cottonseed meal. Clay soil 
should be removed at least two feet in depth, forked well for at 
least ten inches deeper, and sand, together with the necessary acid, 
Some 
Acid-loving 
Plants 
Precaution 
Necessary 
in Lime 
Soil 
In. Sandy 
Soil 
In Clay 
Soil 
53 
