AZALEAS 
For the past sevt-ral yeais the ('ity of Mobile has been 
known to the world as the “Azalea City.” Besides the 
Azaleas planted many years ago, annual plantings in 
ljublic places and at private homes total many thousand 
bushes. We dare say that there is no floral display equal 
to that of Mobile in the spring when the Azaleas are in 
full bloom. No wonder so many visitors pour into this 
Culf City from every direction during the blooming sea¬ 
son, March to IMay, simply to see these beautiful flowers. 
Azaleas, contrary to general belief, or rather guess, are 
by no means hard to groAV, provided a certain require¬ 
ment is fulfilled. We are strong in the belief that the 
Azalea Indica can V)e raised without any trouble in all 
Culf Coast regions and the Atlantic Coast as far north 
as North Carolina; and haidy .Jaiainese Azaleas will grow 
as far north as the state of Nmv Jersey. We earnestly 
recommend this flowering bush to fellow nurserymen as 
well as florists in thevse territories. Try them out as we 
did several years ago. 
The following aie a few c-ultural suggestions; 
1 . Azaleas thrive in acid soil. Use plenty of leaf mold 
(oak leaves most desirable), pond muck or peat moss. 
2 . Uime or alkaline soil is poisonous. In case the 
Azaleas are to be planted in such a soil, remove original 
soil and use plenty of leaf mold or peat moss mixed with 
the other soil, containing no alkali; or if alkaline, apply 
Aluminum Sulphate at the rate of one 4-inch pot full to 
a wheelbarrow of soil. 
3. As the azalea root system is very shallow, it dries 
fast. Apply sufficient water to keep roots moist always. 
4. Azalea delights in a moist soil but it will not toler¬ 
ate a water saturated soil condition; so Azalea beds 
should be made where all surplus water will run off 
quickly. 
Azaleas thrive best in partial shade (when the bush 
grows larger, it will stand the full sunlight) but many 
good blossoms cannot be expected if the bushes are 
planted under complete shade. 
(5. The Azalea is not a gross feeder. If plenty of leaf 
mold or like organic matter Is applied, it does not re¬ 
quire any commercial fertilizer. On the contrary, very 
often a heavy application of fertilizer injures the root 
system. However, if necessary, a light application of well 
rotted cow manure, sheep manure or commercial ferti¬ 
lizers such as Vigoro is beneficial 
7. Red spider and Thirps sometimes trouble the plants. 
Pi'equent spraying of the plants with plain water will 
usually keep this trouble away. If this does not work, 
spray or dust the plant with a sulphur mixture. 
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