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TELEPHONE: LOCKHAVEN 8-051] 

America’s Finest 
RHODODENDRON 
Hybrids 
RHODODENDRON 
CULTURE 
SOIL: Generally speaking, Rhododendrons require 

an acid soil that is well drained. A generous ap- 
plication of peat or well decayed leaves scattered 
on the bed before spading will provide a friable 
compost for the hair-like roots and also assist in 
keeping the soil acid. 
PLANTING: Rhododendrons are essentially sur- 
face rooters, therefore, plant them so that the 
BEAUTY OF 
LITTLEWORTH 
top of the root ball is barely one inch below the 
soil level. We feel safe in saying that 90% of the 
cultural difficulties encountered are directly trace- 
able to deep planting. 
Dig a hole several inches in excess of the ball’s 
depth and width, fill in around the ball with equal 
parts of peat and loam, tamp with a shovel handle 
to prevent undue settling and water thoroughly. 
In a heavy clay, we advise that the soil be re- 


ae moved to at least twice the diameter of the ball’s 
width and replaced with a silty loam. Planting 
LANGLEY may be carried out between the months of Sep- 
PARK : 
tember and April, but we strongly recommend 
MRS. that this operation be performed in the fall so that 
G. W. LEAK the plant has a chance to become established be- 
| fore the summer months. 
MULCHING: After planting, mulch with two or the root system. THe question of adequate drain- 
! three inches of peat, decayed leaves, or dried fern. age cannot be too strongly emphasized. A mini- 
This mulch has a three-fold purpose. 1) It pro- mum of water is required during the dormant 
tects the roots from drying out. 2) It helps con- period which occurs in late fall. 
serve moisture. 3) It ultimately becomes a source BEDE Y 
of food available to the surface feeding roots. On SHELTER: Partial shade and protection from cut- WORMALD 
well established specimens, a top dressing of de- ting winds is essential. Good shade trees include 
cayed cow manure, applied before the fall rains, the following, pines, oaks, larch, larger magnolias 
will be found beneficial. and the flowering fruit trees. Dense overhead 
shade is not to be recommended because a certain 
WATERING: The progenitors of most Rhododen- amount of sunlight is necessary to “ripen” the 
dron hybrids are native to regions where the wood in order that flower buds may be formed 
humidity is relatively high so that during warm and also to prevent the plant from becoming 
summers days the plants appreciate overhead leggy and drawn. 
sprinkling night and morning to reduce the evapo- 
ration rate on leaf surfaces. They imbibe water in AFTER FLOWERING: Remove all faded blooms 
quantity during the growing season, but over- from the plants to prevent the formation of seed 
watering is disastrous if the soil has been insuf- pods. This will conserve the plant's strength and 
ficiently lightened and water accumulates about help promote sturdy new growth. 
COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING RHODODENDRONS ARE EASY SUBJ ECrS LO” GROW 
SUCCESSFULLY, PROVIDEDATHE ABOVE SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOLLOWED. 
We maintain that if they are planted correctly in the beginning, they will require very little future 
attention. 


