SOIL FOR RHODODENDR.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1543, 25 May 1882, Page 3

SOIL FOR RHODODENDR.

A pj'.atv soil, a\ itliout any trace of lime in it, is the most suitable for the successful cultuiu of lhododcndrons. But I have recently been many spociuicns growing in a clayey loam that weie iully equal to then 1 neighbour planted principally in peat m Inch li.id been eai ted some miles for the pmpose. The establishing of lhododemhons on a .still soil is the gieatest difficulty, but, when once established, if the position is toleiably -well drained, they giow and bloom fieely enough. It io very impoitant, if possible, to get plants that ha\e been previously gi owing in a somewhat similar soil. Plants t;iowii in a peaty soil, ami lifted with 11 close, compact. ball, do not tilrlic readily to a stitt adhesive soil ; they veiy frequently make little or no piogress, and, in the couifc of time, giiidually turn yellow and die, often to the surprise of those interested, who think that as they keep their colour, and perhaps (low er and make a little growth, they aLe established. The contact of the roots (accustomed to a warm peaty soil) with the much moic moist and cold soil in which they aie planted, is very frequently the cause of failtue ; and I have seen dead plants pulled out with their original balls perfectly dry, and this is another cause of failure. Rhododendrons in common with many other peat-loving plants, aie very fine and close looted ; hence the difficulty of establishing them in fresh quartets. My piactice, wheu planting them on a stiff soil (common peat being unobtainable), is to mix up a compost consisting of equal paits of good light garden soil, the siftings obtained from a thoroughly rotten heap of old soil of pot plants and other rubbish that accumulates under a potting bench, and loam taken from immediately below the turf of a pasture ; I should, of coiuse, prefer the turf, but some employeis object to much turf-cutting. When good leaf-soil is abundant, it is substituted for the garden .soil. It ought, perhaps, to be stated that we do not rob our kitchen garden, as, when digging our loam, we contrive to work in a quantity into the garden, the exchange being, in kept covered till wanted, to prevent its being satin ated by lams. — A Kentish man. — The Gen den.