> 
drating apparently kills everything, including help- 
ful soil bacteria. No doubt this peat can be re- 
infected with these helpful bacteria over a period of 
time. A compost pile of layers of imported and 
domestic peats might eventually provide an excellent 
growing medium for ericaceous plants. Also it is 
evident that a peat which has become thoroughly 
dried, whether domestic or imported will not give 
good results. (We moisten our peat bin regularly as 
a result of these observations.) 
(GROWING PAINS continued from page 20) 
Over the past 5 or 6 years domestic peats from many 
sources have been tested. The purpose, of course, has 
been to try to find a nearby source, and at the same 
time be assured of getting results equal to those 
being had with the peats from Capac. 
In 1953 some 5000 plants were banded in ‘‘mixes” 
from the Pennsylvania Peat Moss, Inc., Hazelton, 
Pennsylvania. The mixes were made up of various 
grades. A mixture of 60% humus and 40% peat moss 
seemed best, and produced equally as good results as 
have any of the domestic peats yet tried. With trans- 
portation to Waynesboro, the overall cost of these 
peats from Hazelton is a little over one-half of the 
total cost of the peat from Capac. The Pennsylvania 
Peat people deliver with their trucks; and one can 
obtain the 60-40 mix already prepared by them. In 
the tests of this Pennsylvania Peat no sandstone was 
added to the “mix”, because the fiber appeared coarse 
enough without it. Further tests with all of the 
other combinations, and under all conditions pre- 
viously reported, are now in progress, and will be 
reported upon later. Considering the comparative 
costs, and looking at the results, this one we like. 
We do remind you that we have no thought in 
recommending one peat as better for the purpose of 
growing these plants, except that we are anxious to 
see our customers get the best results from our 
liners; and our reports are made as we see them, with 
fairness uppermost in mind. If any peat proves to 
be unsatisfactory, it will be reported as such, regard- 
less. Likewise any peat which does a good job in 
growing these plants will be so reported. 
+or 
Soil Conditioners and Fertilizers 
By the time we squirt Waynesboro city water over 
these plants for a few months, the pH has slowly but 
surely crawled up too high. Waynesboro city water 
is alkaline. Before long the plants appear unhappy 
unless some counter measures are taken. Aluminum 
sulphate (two lb. to 100 sq. ft.) lowers the pH 
rapidly. But frequent applications seem to set up a 
toxic condition which we do not fully understand. 
At present some few flats of plants are being treated 
monthly with aluminum sulphate to learn what will 
eventually happen. Sulphur (1 lb. to 100 sq. ft.) 
seems to be much more satisfactory for lowering the 
pH. The plants seem to like it very much, and 
(Continued on page 22) 
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