care necessary to keep them
healthy.
 Florida inland soils mainly are
acid or "sour", while many coastal
soils are alkaline or "sweet". Most
trees grow best when soil acidity
(pH) ranges between 5.5 and 6.0.
Table 1 gives approximate amounts
of liming and acidifying material
necessary to adjust pH in various
soils.
 Soil pH can be determined by
commercial laboratories or
through local county agricultural
agents.
 Organic matter, an important
component, is usually low in sandy
soils. Thus it is important to add
organic matter or products with
similar soil amendment character-
istics to the soil.
 Organic and some other soil
amendments increase water hold-
ing capacity. This reduces the
watering frequency necessary to
provide uniform supply. Increased


water holding capacity is valuable
for sandy soils and, on clay soils,
organic matter opens the soil to
water and air penetration. Organic
matter also provides absorbent
surfaces to hold certain plant nu-
trients against leaching.
 Peat moss, compost, manure,
vermiculite, calcined clay, colloidal
phosphate, sawdust and wood chips
or shavings can be used as soil
amendments. E a c h amendment
mentioned has advantages and dis-
advantages.
 Peat moss is one of the best or-
ganic materials for amending most
Florida soils. Native Florida peat
is generally less satisfactory than
imported peats because of contami-
nation with weed seed and vari-
ability in structure. In addition,
native peats are usually finer than
imported peats and decompose
more rapidly when added to soil.
Imported peats are not always the
best buy, however, when a good


Table 1.-Approximate amount of materials required to change the reaction
 of some soils.
A. To lower acidity or pH of an alkaline or "sweet" soil

Present pH Pounds sulfur' per 100 square
 feet' to lower pH to 5.2
of the Soil Sandy Soil Loam Soil Muck or Peat

 7.0 2 3 6
 6.5 1 2 5
 6.0 1 2 4
1 Do not use more than 1-11/2 lbs. of sulfur per 100 sq. ft. per application nor more often
than once every 6 weeks. More than one application will be needed to lower a high pH.
B. To raise the pH of an acid soil
Present pH Pounds dolomite per 100 square
 feet' to raise pH to 5.2
of the Soil Sandy Soil Loam Soil Muck or Peat
 4.5 2 3 7
 4.0 4 7 15
 3.5 7 10 23
 a. For a wheelbarrow of soil (2/2 bu.) add 1/15 of the above amounts.
 b. For a square yard of area (9 sq. ft.) add 1/10 of above amounts.
 c. For a cubic yard of soil (27 cu. ft.) add 1/2 of above amounts.