BETTER LAWN

PUBLISHED PERIODICALLY BY THE NEWS BUREAU OF 

BETTER LAWN & TURF INSTITUTE-

Vol. 8 No. 9

INSTITUTE "SEAL OF APPROVAL" ADVERTISING TIME

NOW AVAILABLE TO THE MEMBERSHIP

Harvests

SUITE 818 - 1016 BALTIMORE BUILDING 

KANSAS CITY 5, MISSOURI

February, 1962

Reproduced below are two Lawn Institute advertising mats that have just been devel­
oped -- and which are now available at no charge to Members and Associate Members. 
As you see, these are 2 col. x 4" and 1 col. x 4" in size -- and are ideal for use in 
local newspaper, magazine or telephone directory advertising. Here is an excellent 
means for the membership to publicize the Institute, its Seal of Approval -- and at 
the same time provide an opportunity for consumer identification between Members 
and the Institute.

Included with this issue of "Harvests" is a Return Card — for your use in ordering 
these mats. We strongly urge each Member and Associate Member having or plan­
ning a consumer advertising program to order whichever size fits into that program.

Robert W. Schery, Director 
The Lawn Institute

"AMERICA, the beautiful”

“LAND-That You Love"

Is reflected in

YOUR lawn, which can be 
beautiful and permanent by
using "climate approved" 

seed -carrying this seal of 
approval granted only 
to reputable firms.

Seed bearing this seal is 
predominantly: PERENNIAL,
FINE-LEAVED, SPREADING.

Look for the Lawn Institute Seal of Approval

The Lawn Institute

sponsored in the national interest 

by

NAME
ADDRESS

MAT #1-62

. . . Your lawn can be beautiful 
and long-lasting when you use 
"climate approved" seed that 
bears this Seal of Approval- 
granted only to reputable firms.

The Lawn Institute

by

NAME

ADDRESS

MAT #2-62

ORDER YOUR MATS FOR DEALER IDENTITY WITH INSTITUTE SEAL OF
APPROVAL — NOW!
Dr. Robert W. Schery, Director of the Lawn Institute, announces additional sales 
aids for Institute Members and Associate Members, advertising mats that capitalize 
on their affiliation with the Lawn Institute. The mats are complete advertisements 
in 1-column and 2-column widths, each providing space for the member to insert 
his firm name or logotype.
The 1-column mat is keyed with the headline of: "LAND THAT YOU LOVE" appeal­
ing to pride of ownership that is one of the major motivating factors for the home- 
owner to maintain and beautify his property. The 2-column mat plays upon a nation- 
al pride theme with the line: "AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL" and then develops the 
argument for "climate approved" seed and confidence in the firm displaying the Seal 
of Approval on its premises and products.
The cover of this issue of HARVESTS shows actual size reproductions of these two 
mats. Members and Associate Members are urged to review their requirements for 
these attractive ads - then fill in the enclosed return order card.
"LAWN/GARDEN/OUTDOOR LIVING" INAUGURAL ISSUE CARRIES INSTITUTE 
SEAL STORY
L/G/OL, a new tabloid-size publication bows in with its first issue featuring a com­
prehensive story on the Lawn Institute Seal. The story includes a listing of Institute 
members who have approval for grass seed formulations for the 1962 season, and 
illustrations of their packages bearing the seal. This first issue bears a March, 
1962 dateline.
According to information received from Frank A. Bartonek, well-known editor in 
the lawn and garden community, his new publication will have an initial circulation 
of 36,000 and "...will circulate to garden centers, nurseries, rental yards, hard­
ware stores, discount houses, seed and supply outlets, volume buyers for chains, 
department stores and supermarkets, wholesalers, manufacturers’ agents, and 
manufacturers of products used for lawn care, gardening and outdoor living."
The Lawn Institute Seal story by Mr. Bartonek, developed from material supplied 
by Dr. Robert Schery, has this to say about the Institute’s program:

"The Lawn Institute is a nationally recognized non-profit association for 
the development and dissemination of authoritative information on lawns.
It is sponsored primarily by quality lawn seed harvesters and processors 
in the Midwest and in Oregon. It is also affiliated with major lawn seed 
houses of the East.

"Through this broad affiliation, constant research and participation in 
turfgrass conferences all over the country, the Lawn Institute is considered 
well qualified to interpret turfgrass developments in a broad national sense.

"In an effort to upgrade the quality of lawn seed, the Institute board of 
directors authorized a registered seal of approval, which is awarded only 
to those seed mixtures which the packagers guarantee will observe the 
quality standards set by the Institute."

Reprints of this excellent feature on the Lawn Institute can be made available to 
Members and Associate Members for use in their direct mail advertising or as 
companion mailers with invoices, etc.
LAWN/GARDEN/OUTDOOR LIVING will be prepared and published by IMPLEMENT 
& TRACTOR PUBLICATIONS, INC. of Kansas City, a long established and re­
spected firm in the business publications community.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER COMMITTEE HEAD SOLICITS LAWN INSTITUTE
MEMBERSHIPS BY LETTER
An outstanding new-membership-recruitment campaign for the Lawn Institute was 
recently undertaken by Mr. C. Robert Pommer, Vice-President of Corneli Seed 
Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Pommer, in consultation with local com- 
mittee members, prepared a comprehensive two-page letter which explained the 
history and development of the Lawn Institute, pointing out the benefits and unified 
approach that membership enjoys through this centralized effort. Mr. Pommer 
enclosed a copy of Dr. Robert W. Schery’s Annual (1961) Meeting Report; reprints 
of "Quality Lawn Seed" and "What You Should Know About Buying Grass Seed" were 
also included in order that the potential member might have a greater appreciation 
of the work performed by the Lawn Institute.
Mr. Pommer's comments about the Seal of Approval and his appeal for joining the 
Lawn Institute were particularly apropos, and are quoted here for the benefit of 
those who might wish to sponsor new members:

... "To better illustrate the work that has been done, I am enclosing here­
with Dr. Schery’s Report To Institute Members And Associate Members 
At The Annual Meeting - May 20, 1961 - Kansas City, Missouri. In 
addition, I am enclosing two Lawn Institute reprints entitled, "Quality 
Lawn Seed" and "What You Should Know About Buying Grass Seed", which 
are available to Associate Members through the advertising firm of Bozell 
& Jacobs, Inc.
"...The latest field of activity that The Lawn Institute has entered is the 
promotion of the Seal of Approval. This is an attempt to upgrade lawn 
grass mixtures and at the same time, prove to interested authorities that 
a very earnest attempt is being made by the responsible members of the 
lawn grass industry to educate the public to the use of better lawn and turf 
grasses. It is the belief of the members that education in this field will be 
of more lasting benefit than compulsory action on the part of state or federal 
authorities.

"...You will be interested to know that the annual dues for Associate Mem­
bers amounts to only $50.00, plus a nominal royalty charge for those inter­
ested in using the Seal of Approval. It is the writer’s personal opinion that 
this money is one of the best investments that anyone can make who is in­
terested in the promotion and use of better lawn and turf grasses, and I 
shall be very happy if you will advise me that you are interested in joining 
The Lawn Institute. "

We are most grateful to Mr. Pommer for this aggressive recruiting effort to a se­
lected list of non-member firms. It is through such positive efforts that the Lawn 
Institute can continue to add responsible member firms, and thus render more in­
clusive services and counsel to its participants.
"CONSUMER REPORTS" PROVIDES TIMELY ADVICE TO CONSUMER ON
SEED BUYING
"CONSUMER REPORTS" published by the Consumers Union of New York City, 
offers excellent advice to its readers on purchasing seed this spring. The Con­
sumers Union consulted Dr. Schery and the Lawn Institute in the fall of 1959, seek­
ing factual and dependable seed-purchasing information for its readers. The RE­
PORTS’ most recent article stresses the need for considering the climate and per­
sonal situation when buying lawn seeds. The editors zoned the United States into 
three regions, i.e., Region Number 1 was the "cool season grasses" in the North­
east and Northwest, with the "dry, warm, sunny areas" in the Great Plains region.
Frequent mention is made of the "CU’s consultants" and seemingly refers to the 
Lawn Institute’s staff as one of the more dependable sources of information for the 
article.
The item opens with admonition to consider grass seed in terms of the climate and 
the personal situation, and refers the reader back to Consumer Reports in Septem­
ber of 1959. Here are a number of advisements contained in the article:

"BUYING LAWN SEED. The appropriate mixtures of seeds rather than 
a single species substantially reduce the risk of failure. Especially in a 
yard that has varying soil, shade, or drainage, a mixed lawn is the proper 
choice—
"FOR GENERAL-PURPOSE USE.
50 to 80 per cent Kentucky bluegrasses 
20 to 40 per cent red fescues
"Dry, warm, sunny areas (such as the Great Plains) call for top percentages 
of Kentucky bluegrass and minimum red fescues —; in cooler areas (such 
as the Northeast and Northwest), the top percentages of red fescue and a 
corresponding decrease in bluegrass are preferable. Small percentages 
of other grasses may be permissible."

Then a compounding for shade mixtures, in which the red fescues are 
higher in percentage, some rough bluegrass included, and Kentucky blue­
grass running from 10 to 50 per cent, is listed.
The table on page 140 is devoted entirely to "Desirable Cool Season Lawn 
Grasses". The only grasses mentioned are these, in this order: Kentucky 
bluegrasses, red fescues, Colonial bentgrasses, rough bluegrass. The 
varities of red fescue grown in Oregon are given prominent mention. Then 
the advantages and disadvantages and the preferable growing conditions are 
cited.
The article goes on to review the requirements of listing purity and germi­
nation figures on the seed box, then picks up our usual interest points: 
"Another important consideration, in both price comparison and the develop­
ment of the lawn, is the size of the various grass seeds. For a given weight, 
Kentucky bluegrass has - nearly ten times as many as ryegrass --." "Still 
another consideration should be the percentage of temporary grass seed.
Such grasses (usually ryes) can be useful in small amounts to help — pre­
venting erosion --; but too much of the temporary types will be detrimental 
to the growth of the more desirable species and to the appearance of the 
lawn."
"CU’s consultants recommend two to five pounds per thousand square feet 
of a good mixture based on Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue —."

SCHERY TO ADDRESS "TURFGRASS CONFERENCE" MARCH 26-27 AT
WISCONSIN
Robert W. Schery, the Lawn Institute’s Director, will appear on the Turfgrass Con­
ference Program, March 26-27, to be held at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. 
Schery has been assigned the topic of: "Turf is Big Business", which will be the 
opening address on the two-day program. His appearance at this conference was at 
the invitation of Dr, F. V. Burcalow, Professor of Agronomy, at the University of 
Wisconsin.
1962 SPRING PRESS KIT WILL FEATURE "BUY GOOD SEED" ARTICLES
The 1962 Spring Press Kit for the Lawn Institute will feature an article by Dr. 
Schery entitled "Wise Choice of Grass Seed" with an accompanying photograph. Dr. 
Schery’s article places the editor in a position of rendering his readers a very 
practical service with simple guidelines to follow in buying grass seed. Dr. Schery 
points out that homeowners should read very carefully the manufacturers’ informa­
tion imprinted on the seed package.
Other articles to be included in the Press Kit will be "For a Good Lawn, Practice 
Understanding"; "The Lawn and Outdoor Living"; "Which Lawn Grasses Are Out 
In Front?" and "Lawn Pests Losing Out?"

The last two named articles are particularly timely and contain obvious editor- 
appeal, in that most readers seek guidance in seed-buying and pest-control at all 
times, but especially in the spring of the year.
The Press Kit will also contain four excellent reprints of previously published ar­
ticles. "Ten Spring Lawn Problems" (Popular Gardening); "Big Bargains in Turf" 
(American Cemetery); "Lawn & Roses Have Needs in Common" (American Rose 
Magazine) and "There Is a Difference in Grass Seed" (Horticulture) will provide 
editors with an at-a-glance review of previous editorial interest and at the same 
time supply excellent general reference material.
Reply Cards will be of two types for the Spring Press Kit. Our established list of 
publications will receive a special card enabling editors to specify the type of fea­
ture they would like to publish in the future, and the newly-added list of editors will 
receive a card requesting information on the value of photographs, special features, 
and whether they wish to continue to receive Institute Press Kits.
The Spring Press Kit will be mailed to 700 editors with daily newspapers, garden 
and consumer publications. Approximately 100 additional press kits will be sent to 
a recently-acquired list of newspapers, ranging from 20,000 to 175,000-plus circu­
lation.
INSTITUTE PRESS MAILINGS EXPANDED
Expansion of the Institute’s mailing lists to include additional newspapers is being 
completed by Dr. Schery and Bozell & Jacobs, Inc., the Institute’s public relations 
representative. This effort has involved contact with the state press associations 
in the areas of interest to the Institute. In many cases these associations will ar­
range for distribution of Institute-prepared materials to the individual member 
newspapers within the association. In cases where the state associations do not 
provide this service, the newspaper mailing list has been augmented through the 
research facilities of Bozell & Jacobs. The first mailing going to these new outlets 
will be the Lawn Institute’s Spring ’62 Press Kit, which is currently in production. 
The newly-added publications range in circulation from 20, 000 to 175, 000 - and will 
provide an increased "voice" for the Institute in areas where Kentucky bluegrass, 
Oregon fescues and Highland bentgrasses flourish.
"POPULAR GARDENING" FEATURES WINTER-FEEDING ARTICLE BY DR.
SCHERY
The February, 1962 issue of POPULAR GARDENING features an extensive article 
by Dr. Robert W. Schery. "Winter Feeding of Lawns" is the appropriate title and 
appears over Dr. Schery’s by-line with direct reference to the test plantings con­
ducted at the Lawn Institute’s headquarters in Marysville, Ohio. Written with the 
use of semi-technical terminology, the article is very timely for the lawn-conscious 
readers. The following two paragraphs are excerpts from the feature:

"...At the outset, we must emphasize that winter feeding is appropriate 
only to the bluegrass-fescue lawn. These two species are the mainstays 
of northern lawns, and to some extent they serve as wintergrasses in the 
upper South.
"The fine-leaved fescues and bluegrasses build their strength during the 
cooler months; therefore it is comforting to know that the nutrients are 
available during this important period. Bluegrass responds to short days 
with a low growth, so if there is a warm spell, don’t expect to see any 
substantial changes because you have fertilized in the winter..."

PURDUE’S TURF CONFERENCE TO BE ADDRESSED BY DR. SCHERY
"Steps in New Lawn Construction" will be the title of an address before the Midwest 
Regional Turf Conference by Dr. Robert W. Schery, Lawn Institute Director. The 
three-day meeting will take place March 5-6-7 at Purdue University in Lafayette, 
Indiana.

Dr. Schery is appearing on the program at the invitation of Dr. William H. Daniel 
of Purdue’s Department of Agronomy.
"HANDYMAN ENCYCLOPEDIA" REQUESTS LAWN INSTITUTE’S COLOR
PHOTOGRAPHS
The Lawn Institute has supplied color photographs to the editors of POPULAR 
MECHANICS MAGAZINE for possible publication in a forthcoming edition of the 
"Handyman Encyclopedia" as requested by Mr. Allan Carpenter of this magazine. 
Dr. Schery has pointed out to Mr. Carpenter that if POPULAR MECHANICS uti­
lizes the colored prints, it will be reported in HARVESTS for the benefit of Insti­
tute members who might wish to purchase a personal copy of this encyclopedia.
"10 LAWN PROBLEMS" TITLE FOR POCKET EDITION BY MARY LYNN AND
ASSOCIATES.
"10 LAWN PROBLEMS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM" will be the title of a 
pocket-size edition authored by Dr. Robert Schery and published by Mary Lynn and 
Associates. The attractive hard-cover booklet will contain some 32 pages and is 
well illustrated. Mary Lynn, head of the firm bearing her name, commented that 
quite often these timely topic books enjoy a 100, 000-plus sale. "SELECTING 
LAWN GRASSES" will be the appropriate title of a second booklet, now being proc­
essed.

MR. CLYDE KILPATRICK OF LORIMER, IOWA, JOINS LAWN INSTITUTE
Mr. Clyde Kilpatrick is now a Full Member of the Better Lawn and Turf Institute. 
Thanks to the efforts of Ken Kiburz, Mr. Kilpatrick is one of our newest members. 
Recently Mr. Kilpatrick purchased the Creston Seed firm of Creston, Iowa.

CREEPING RED FESCUE COMMISSION HEARING SET FOR FEBRUARY 27TH
The Creeping Red Fescue Commission will appear before the United States Tariff 
Commission concerning imports, i. e. "being imported into the United States in 
such increased quantities, either actual or relative, as to cause or threaten serious 
injury to the domestic industry producing the like product". The hearing is sched­
uled for 10:00 a, m, on February 27, 1962, at the Tariff Commission Building in 
Washington, D. C.
The amended application is available for public inspection at the Tariff Commission 
offices in Washington, D. C. The Board of Directors of the Lawn Institute has in­
dicated its support of the fescue position, and offered such services as it can to­
wards successful completion of whatever action the Oregon Fescue Commission 
decides upon.
"BLUEGRASS BEAUTY" FILM VIEWED BY NEARLY 5 MILLION DURING 1961
"Bluegrass Beauty", which was produced nearly four years ago, has now been 
viewed by an impressive audience of over 13 million persons. The major portion of 
this total viewing group was through the medium of television, wherein some 345 
telecasts featured the Lawn Institute’s film. It is estimated that 13, 084, 000 view­
ers saw the film on television. Private audiences such as schools, garden clubs, 
service clubs, etc, total 104, 893 viewers from 1, 932 showings of "Bluegrass 
Beauty".

The Institute’s film was shown in most of the states and even traveled as far as 
Alaska and Canada, Quite often "prime" television times were used, which resulted 
in invaluable exposure for the Lawn Institute and the entire seed industry. This 
year, for the first time, the film has been distributed to schools.
SCHERY REPORTS ON 1961 MEETING OF WEED SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Dr. Schery attended the 1961 meeting of the Weed Society of America in St. Louis, 
Missouri, on December 11th through 14th. His report on this meeting is repro­
duced here for the benefit of Institute members:

"As to the general trends in weed control, it looks as though there is no 
letup in new products, of ever increasing chemical complexity and specific 
use. The necessary wide testing by competent authorities becomes in­
creasingly difficult under independent office, and it well may be that a 
number of years of experience will be needed before all facets of use are 
found out for any given chemical. As far as lawns are concerned, which of 
the pre-emergence chemicals being advocated for crop plants will find appli­
cation here, remains to be seen. Certainly there are ample crabgrass pre­
venters available nowadays, so that ultimate dominance of the home lawn 
market may resolve itself more into a cost and merchandising proposition 
than a question of competence of a given chemical.

"The newest crabgrass preventer will be Elanco’s Trifluralin. This product 
will be the active ingredient of the Elanco line, effective at the light rate of 
1-1/2 pounds per acre. One of the possible hazards with this chemical is 
that there is danger of burning turf with moderate overdosages, certainly a 
potential problem if homeowners do not follow directions carefully. But the 
relatively low rates needed speak for eventual economy in crabgrass pre­
vention that could match post-emergence control.
"Elanco’s crabgrass preventer used last year was the safer dipan, which 
must be employed at the rates of 30 to 40 pounds per acre, however.
"Dow has received label clearance for Zytron (liquid) as a nimblewill pre­
ventive, also usable as a crabgrass preventer if applied early enough. Dow 
will also have aerosol formulations of dalapon, and Zytron-pentachlorophenol 
for weed control in shrubbery. Aerosol spot spraying of weeds in the lawn 
with dalapon or amitrol fits in nicely with the idea of spot reseeding to im­
prove turf having some coarse, clumpy grasses.
"A general feeling seems to be shaping up that some of these weed control 
chemicals are directly stimulative to plants, entirely aside from the help a 
crop plant or grass automatically receives because the weed is killed. This 
is a new field, just beginning to be explored by the university researchers. 
The Lawn Institute has noted from time to time this sort of effect from lawn 
chemicals such as chlordane and 2,4-D.
"The triazines (such as simazine) seem to be exciting ever more interest, 
more from the standpoint of general weed control in crops and ornamentals 
than for lawn use. They are used to some extent with southern turfgrasses, 
where 2,4-D and DSMA have a stunting effect. I am a little leery about 
greater employment for turf purposes because of the high toxicity these 
chemicals carry, and their great longevity in the soil. We have seen on the 
Lawn Institute grounds here that just a little simazine washed from the 
driveway on to the lawn can inhibit grass growth for a whole season. Some 
of the papers dealt with the residual toxicity of simazine in the soil, and 
methods for counteracting this (such as the addition of calcium polysulfide).
"I found no indications of any selective products for the elimination of coarse 
grasses such as quackgrass or tall fescue, other than the general killing with 
dalapon, amitrol, etc. and reseeding.

"Factors affecting weed seed dormancy have been little explored. For ex­
ample, seeds of lamb’s quarters had a much higher percentage of dormancy 
when they developed under long summer days, rather than under shorter day 
length. Many weed seeds lived for only a few years when stored in bottles in 
the laboratory (the basis of much of our seed testing), but remained viable 
many times as long when in the soil. Some seeds of newly introduced weeds 
have been found five feet deep in the soil; how did they get there? These are 
some of the subjects being considered in the area of pure research on weed 
seed, relatively little investigated up to this time.

"Nor is a great deal understood as to why some weed killers are effective at 
certain concentrations and under certain conditions, not at others, even on 
the same plant. Much further study is needed on the molecular level to point 
up modes of herbicide absorption and effectiveness. Such studies should have 
a direct bearing upon the tolerance of such plants as lawn grasses, with con­
sequent practical applications.
"It is generally conceded that effective crabgrass killers must have a residual 
life in the soil of at least a number of weeks, to cover the normal span of 
crabgrass germination in the spring. Some chemicals, such as the calcium 
propyl arsonates, are effective only if precisely applied during a relatively 
short span of crabgrass germination. From the standpoint of the seed indus­
try it seems that we can anticipate general recommendation for new seeding 
of lawns either a few weeks before, or several weeks after, application of 
crabgrass preventive chemical. This would fall naturally into a stepped-up 
campaign for autumn seeding of bluegrass lawns, something we have been 
attempting in the Lawn Institute. The obvious best use for crabgrass prevent­
ers is a late autumn or early spring application, to a turf that has been thor­
oughly developed from a late August or early September seeding. This is an 
angle that might be pursued, for the chemical industry would seem to have 
both a duty and a self-interest in promoting autumn lawn seeding.
"There might be more specific interest in the papers presented in Section 7, 
'Weed Control in Turf'. Gallagher reported that calcium propyl arsonate is 
most effective when applied approximately at the date of first crabgrass 
emergence,
"Limpel, et al continued to find dacthal and Zytron the best Crabgrass herbi­
cides, the former inhibiting germination of new seedings but if applied after 
the sprouting of quality turfgrasses showed these to have good tolerance of 
the chemical. It was interesting that dacthal showed increasing susceptibility 
to injury of fine fescues according to this varietal order - Illahee, Pennlawn, 
Chewings, Creeping Red. Bluegrass was not injured by even 20 pounds per 
acre, double the usual rate for control of crabgrass. Spring applications 
were more effective than autumn, unless autumn applications were at signifi­
cantly higher rates.

"Eliot Roberts, Institute advisor, Iowa State University, reported Zytron and 
dacthal among the more effective pre-emergence chemicals, with the newer 
bandane giving poorer results. Only arsenicals had any degree of permanence 
in the soil, with a significant longevity the second year. Trifluralin caused 
burning of the good grass at higher rates.
"Alder, et al reported that dipan, trifluralin, and other Elanco chemicals 
have proven safe on all southern grass and ornamentals. Crabgrass is very 
susceptible, so much so that it is their best indicator for concentration of the 
chemicals in the soil. Elanco has label clearance for pre-emergence crab­
grass control with trifluralin at 1-1/2 pounds per acre. Results seem to

indicate that on most soils it is safe to reseed six weeks after use of the 
chemicals, and there is no harm in scratching the soil surface to make the 
seeding.
"Dr. J. W. Herron of the University of Kentucky, and Dr. W. H. Daniel, 
Purdue (Institute advisor) reported on use of Zytron for control of nimblewill, 
with satisfactory results. Dr. Burt reported upon the use of cacodylic acid 
(Dimethyl arsonic acid) for lawn renovation and weed control in driveways. 
With the latter chemical there are a few quite resistant weeds, such as quack- 
grass, tall fescue, and timothy, which merit repeat treatment.

"So in summary it looks as though we have some pretty good crabgrass killers 
available, and the future may promise experimentation with other agricultural 
chemicals for selective elimination of weeds other than Crabgrass in the lawn. 
Techniques may also be found for more certain, quicker results from appli­
cation."

INSTITUTE RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION FOR PAYGRO AND ZYTRON
For some time the Lawn Institute has been conducting experiments at the Marysville 
test plots on Paygro, a mulch produced by Mead Paper Company and Dow Chemical 
Company’s Zytron. The following special summaries of these tests have been pre­
pared by Dr. Schery for Institute members and Associate members:

PAYGRO TEST RESULTS

"Paygro" is a shredded bark from hardwoods, a by-product of the Mead Paper Com­
pany pulping operations in Central Ohio. It is an attractive dark brown mulch, with 
pleasant handling characteristics and a "woodsy" odor. It has proved quite useful 
as a mulch for roses and shrubs, and the Mead Company was interested in learning 
more of its potentialities as a lawn mulch, as well as gaining further experience 
with it as a soil amendment and in general mulching. A truck load was given the 
Lawn Institute for experimentation.
Tests with the material this autumn on new seedings indicated that in general Pay­
gro was not quite so satisfactory as the conventional straw mulch, for bringing up 
the grass. Its appearance, however, was more attractive. Depending upon avail­
ability and cost of straw, Paygro might or might not be preferred. Using straw as 
the standard of comparison, the Lawn Institute tests indicated that the coarser mesh 
Paygro was 80% as effective, the fine (dusty) Paygro 65% as effective, judged by the 
rapidity of progress and uniformity of turf from new seedings. Apparently Paygro 
did not retain moisture quite so well as did straw, and the finer textured material 
tended to wash and windrow more readily.
One of the more interesting tests was on reestablishment of grass through new seed­
ing where all turf had been killed by "scorched earth" chemical treatment (as with

cacodylic acid, dalapon, amino triazole, etc.). Experience seemed to indicate 
that it was impossible to sprinkle sufficiently often to bring up a stand quickly and 
well solely utilizing the mulch of dead grass that remained after chemical treat­
ment. However, top-dressing with Paygro (which was held in place by the dead 
stubble) gave improvement on this order:

Treatment
Check, no mulch other than dead grass
Paygro, coarse —
Paygro, fine —

Per Cent Cover in 5 Weeks
50% 
15%
70% 
20%
95% 
50%

30% 
50% 
90% 

20% 
55% 
90% 

Each of the four vertical columns refers to a different test, involving different 
seeding and watering rates.
We have found Paygro in two cubic foot bags versatile for many mulching uses, and 
most attractive. The coarser grade materials should be chosen for mulches, the 
fines for incorporation into the soil as an amendment or topdressing.

ZYTRON FOR NIMBLEWILL CONTROL

One of the newer and more serious pests in lawns, from Pennsylvania to Missouri, 
is nimblewill. Being a perennial grass, that makes patches in the lawn of bluish 
color in summer, dead and brown through most of the colder months, it is not 
amenable to checking at seed sprouting stage, as is crabgrass.
Fortunately one of the crabgrass chemicals, Zytron (Dow Chemical Company), gave 
suggestion of effectiveness in controlling nimblewill. Tests undertaken at the Lawn 
Institute, in cooperation with Dow Chemical Company, has confirmed this to be 
true. Control is not necessarily 100% perfect, but sizeable elimination of the nim­
blewill results, especially when the materials are used early in summer just after 
the nimblewill has begun very active growth.
The Lawn Institute has obtained excellent control with either a single strong appli­
cation, or two lighter rate applications spaced ten days or so apart. Dow will mar­
ket Zytron for nimblewill control to be used at the rate of 1 pint per thousand 
square feet, in two applications.
The earliest Lawn Institute tests with Zytron go back to the autumn of 1959, when it 
was noted that heavy applications even after nimblewill was dormant gave a modi­
cum of control judged by the following spring’s regrowth. Through the subsequent 
years various rates of Zytron were tried, and in no instance (even at three or four 
times the currently recommended rate) was there injury to the permanent bluegrass 
turf. About 20 trials have since been made, the specific ratings and percentage of 
control for which are in the files, and would be available upon request to any mem­
ber wishing to learn more about this usage of Zytron.

BEHAVIOR OF BLUEGRASS AS A TURFGRASS DISCUSSED IN "AGRONOMY
JOURNAL"
The November-December issue of the AGRONOMY JOURNAL presented four arti­
cles relating to bluegrass and its behavior as a turfgrass. Three of the discussions 
are reviewed below by Dr. Schery, commenting on the published items which were 
authored by Dr. A. A. Hanson and Dr. F. V. Juska, U.S.D.A., Beltsville, 
Maryland; and Dr. T. R. Flannagan and Dr. R. J. Bartlett, Vermont Agricultural 
Experiment Station.

"Dr. Hanson and Dr. Juska report first upon ’Winter Root Activity in Ken­
tucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)’. The experimentation proved the generally 
accepted idea that root and rhizome growth continues through the cold weather 
of winter, and is increased by autumn fertilization. The authors conclude 
that because of this growth most of the autumn fertilizer is ’used up’ so that 
additional stimulation is needed by following May.
"The same authors had a study on ’Effects of Interval and Height of Mowing 
on Growth of Merion and Common Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)’. This 
study was carried out in greenhouse nutrient culture tests, backed up by addi­
tional outdoor plantings handled in much the same way. Conclusions were 
that higher cutting, less frequently, gave increased amounts of leaf growth 
and roots-plus-rhizomes. The authors felt that under adverse conditions 
plants having well developed roots and rhizomes would be better able to sur­
vive and recover, and thus so should taller-mown bluegrass. The study casts 
doubt about the admonition to mow frequently, although obviously grass should 
not be let grow tall and then be mowed (intervals of more than a week when it 
is growing vigorously). Bluegrass turf was able to come back after dormancy 
better under high mowing than after low mowing, and to a lesser extent under 
a weekly mowing regimen rather than a more frequent clipping sequence.
"Juska and Hanson, in ’The Nitrogen Variable in Testing Kentucky Bluegrass 
Varieties for Turf’ conclude that in early stages of the tests, varieties, espe­
cially the Merion group, were outstandingly better than natural Kentucky blue­
grass, but that this advantage disappeared with the years. It would seem as 
though the so-called ’improved’ varieties are selected for under high fertility 
conditions, and when not pampered with fertilizer prove themselves no better 
in the long run. Especially interesting was the fact that Arboretum, a natural 
selection made in Missouri under non-intensified management conditions, was 
the only variety having a significantly higher score after three years, both 
this and natural Kentucky bluegrass rating nearly 15% higher than the Merion 
group.
"The remaining item is by Dr. T. R. Flannagan and Dr. R. J. Bartlett, 
agronomists at the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station, reporting on 
'Soil Compaction Associated with Alternating Green and Brown Stripes on 
Turf'. They observed that where tractor wheels regularly compacted the soil 
on the University campus that there were greener stripes, marked by high

incidence of white clover. They credit the effects to influence on the blue- 
grass-clover from the tractor wheels compressing the soil, although the data 
is not entirely convincing that there may not be simple abrasion factors not 
considered.”

"SEEDING TURF ACREAGES" PREPARED FOR PARK MAINTENANCE.
A forthcoming issue of the PARK MAINTENANCE should contain "Seeding Turf 
Acreages" by Dr. Robert Schery. The recently completed manuscript is now in the 
hands of the publishers and reprints will be distributed when available. Dr. Schery 
discusses newer techniques for mass seeding, especially through the use of large 
equipment in highway programs. The article also makes a strong plea for lower- 
growing quality turfgrasses, especially bluegrass and Red fescues, in place of the 
more customary tall fescue plantings. Also submitted to the PARK MAINTE­
NANCE editors was a photograph of bluegrass-fescue roadside plantings.
"SEED WORLD" FEATURES GARDEN CENTER TIPS BY E. S. ELLETS
The November 24 (1961) SEED WORLD contained some down-to-earth advice for 
garden center operators in E. S. Ellets’ article: "Let’s Talk About Garden Center 
Operations". Mr. Ellets points out that all too often the sales staff of a garden 
center is not prepared to advise its customers on proper lawn-care methods. Here 
are some quotes from this well written article:

"Most of these young people know nothing about gardening and they need in­
formation and helpful suggestions if their interest in good lawns and in gar­
dening is to be kept up. And that, it seems to me, is where the garden center 
operated by an individual who has a background of seeds and of gardening 
knowledge is going to be a big help. You are going to be able to offer your 
customers a service which most of the chain operated or discount house gar­
den centers cannot offer because most of their garden centers are not year- 
round operations.
"—For a while the men took over the power mowing. Now the women are 
doing it. And because women do not have the mechanical instinct that many 
men have, they can’t or won’t tinker around with the mower to get it going as 
the men so often do, so they want new power mowers more often and they 
want mowers easy for them to push.

"I’d hate to say that the women are easier to sell than the men; but I do know 
this. They will ask a lot more questions if it doesn’t live up to what you have 
said it would do after they get it home. You are going to get it right back or 
you are going to have a very dissatisfied customer who will go around the 
community telling what a ’gyp’ you are. So never get the idea that you can 
put anything over on a woman customer because it is sure to back-fire. On 
the other hand, if you please your women customers, give them the little ex­
tra information they need and the little extra service they may not ask for 
but which means a lot to them, you will have some good boosters.

"If I were in the garden center business, one of the first things I would do 
would be to bolster up my knowledge of gardening. How can you do it ? By 
reading and having available for reference in your garden center by yourself, 
your staff and your customers authoritative information on lawns and gardens; 
by attending lectures at men’s garden clubs or other groups, given by authori­
ties in the field of gardening and lawn care—. "

"LUXURIANT LAWNS" ADVOCATES BLENDS OF KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS,
BENTS AND FESCUES
"LUXURIANT LAWNS" published by TFH Publications of Jersey City, N. J., ad­
vocates the use of Kentucky Bluegrass, Bents, and Fescues in this 32-page booklet. 
Offered to the public for thirty-five cents, LUXURIANT LAWNS stresses the point 
that blends are usually the most successful under average growing conditions. 
Authored by Mr. Justin Scharff, the booklet reflects many of the accepted practices 
of the Lawn Institute and Mr. Scharff comments to the effect that Kentucky Blue­
grass is possibly number one in the seed-buying public’s mind. He further points 
out that Fescues are desirable because of their ability to thrive under such adverse 
conditions as poor soils, high acidity and sandy areas. Mr. Scharff also cautions 
the buyer to scrutinize the analysis tags on the seed packages.
DR. SCHERY TO AUTHOR CHAPTER IN  "YOUR GUIDE TO A BETTER LAWN"
"Your Guide To A Better Lawn" is the title of a soon-to-be-published book by the 
International Minerals and Chemical Corporation and will contain a chapter written 
by Dr. Schery. The IMCC publication has indicated that both the Lawn Institute 
and its Director will be given full credit for the chapter entitled: "Species of Grass 
To Be Used For Various Turf Conditions" and will carry the subheading of "Impor­
tance of Good Seed Mixtures". Other chapters are as follows, "Feeding Lawn 
Grasses", by Dr. W.H. Daniel, Institute advisor at Purdue; "Soil", by Dr. R.P. 
Thomas, of International Minerals; "Construction of New Lawns", by Dr. James 
Tyson, the Institute’s advisor at Michigan State University; "Renovating Lawns", 
by Dr. Eliot C. Roberts, the Institute’s advisor at Iowa State University; "Mowing, 
Trimming and Lawn Maintenance", by Dr, J, R, Watson, Toro; "Crabgrass and 
Weed Control", by Dr. R. R. Davis, the Institute’s advisor at the Ohio Agricultural 
Experimentation Station; "Turf Insects", by Dr. H. B. Petty, University of Illinois; 
"Controlling Common Lawn Disease", by Dr, M. P. Britton, University of Illinois; 
"Water for Lawns", by Dr. Fred V. Grau, Maryland.
A few excerpts from Dr. Schery’s chapter follow:

"What is important is to know the types of grasses, and just why the particu­
lar blend of seeds you buy is necessary—. --There are few modern lawn 
species not also in grandfather’s pasture. Improvements have come mainly 
in the harvesting, cleaning and handling to provide viable seeds free of 
troublesome weeds.

"The major northern lawn grasses are the bluegrasses, the fine fescues, and 
the bentgrasses. -- Tall fescue is sometimes utilized; the ’Kentucky-31' 
variety should not be confused with either Kentucky bluegrass or red fescue. 
Tall fescues (Alta and Kentucky-31) may be useful for the roadside and in 
play areas, but are too coarse for a quality lawn turf.
"There are many bluegrasses, but only Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) 
has received much acclaim for lawns. -- Seed of 'wild’ or natural Kentucky 
bluegrass now is harvested in Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, and other mid- 
western states as well as Kentucky. Some of the sods are as old as the mem­
ory of white man. Natural Kentucky bluegrass from such fields is especially 
adaptable and durable.
"— Because bluegrass exhibits a minimum of sexual crossing, most seed 
comes true. Seed from a well-rogued variety has essentially uniform hered­
ity, and may lack some of the flexibility and wide adaptability that a natural 
Kentucky bluegrass population has. Arboretum, Delta, Merion, Newport and 
Park are varieties currently marketed.
"Arboretum is a natural bluegrass blend from Missouri. —Park is a mixture 
of vigorous Minnesota selections, yielding plump seed that produces robust 
seedlings.
"Red fescue (Festuca rubra) is the only fescue receiving prominent lawn 
usage. The red fescues are especially useful when combined with Kentucky 
bluegrass. The fescue is especially well adapted to dry, shady spots and less 
fertile soils. The sizable seed yields a seedling almost as fast as nurse- 
grass. Yet it is not so aggressive as would be ryegrass. The best seed mix­
tures generally have Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue varieties predominat­
ing.
"As with Kentucky bluegrass, numerous selections of red fescue have been 
made, the differences between which are largely physiological. In most in­
stances, varieties are interchangeable for this area. Chewings, Illahee, 
Pennlawn and Rainier have all performed well. Good quality Creeping Red 
Fescue also comes from Oregon.
"Bentgrass is a turfgrass gem when kept with the care accorded a golf green. 
Because requirements for bentgrass are more demanding than for bluegrass 
and fescue -- close clipping, thinning, disease control, frequent watering 
and feeding — it is best planted alone rather than in mixture. —
"The creeping bentgrasses had best be left for the golf green. The Colonial 
bentgrasses (Agrostis tenuis), including Highland, — are more erect and 
adaptable to lawn. --
"The advantages of mixtures have already been covered in the discussion of 
natural Kentucky bluegrass, itself a mixture of natural strains. Risk is

spread even farther when two or three compatible grasses are blended. In­
clusion of fine fescues with bluegrass extends usefulness of the mixture to 
poorer soils and dry shade.
"There is no point in mixing a multitude of exotic grasses of doubtful longev-. 
ity. Even worse is the excessive dilution of good seed with cheap nurse- 
grasses. Nursegrasses not only contribute little themselves, but may prevent 
establishment of the permanent grass. "

DR. SCHERY SUPPLIES "SATURDAY EVENING POST" WITH LAWN FEATURE
MATERIAL
Institute members will find a forthcoming lawn feature by James A. Skardon of the 
SATURDAY EVENING POST editorial staff interesting. Several months ago 
Mr. Skardon visited the Institute’s offices in Marysville, Ohio, seeking material 
and professional information for an early 1962 feature in his magazine.

Mr. Arnold Nicholson, Associate Editor of the POST, has advised Dr. Schery that 
the forthcoming article should appear in one of the late March issues of POST. It 
is interesting to note Mr. Skardon’s comments (after he had submitted the article 
for editorial approval) in a letter to Dr. Schery:

"Thanks for the additional material for the Post article on lawns. It was a 
big help.
The article has been ok’d and is tentatively scheduled for early in March... 
You can get exact timing from Arnold Nicholson the associate editor who is 
handling the project. You could also probably order reprints through him if 
you are interested.
Thanks again for your help. "

"THE FAMILY HANDYMAN" TO PUBLISH INSTITUTE’S LAWN ARTICLE IN 
MARCH-APRIL ISSUE
Word has just been received from Mr. Richard Demske, Associate Editor of THE 
FAMILY HANDYMAN that his publication will carry an extensive four-page article 
in the March-April issue. This general lawn feature was prepared by Dr. Schery 
and re-prints will be circulated if and as received.
LAWN INSTITUTE RECEIVES FREQUENT QUERIES FROM INDIVIDUALS
Quite often the Lawn Institute receives appeals for information from individuals who 
know of the Institute and its role in the national seed community. This speaks well 
of the Institute’s ever-increasing stature and of awareness of the general public of 
our programs. Recently Dr. Schery received a request for help from a homeowner 
in Harvey, Illinois, who was encountering "blotches and patch drying out of Merion".

Dr. Schery’s reply to this particular individual contained these comments:

"I wish I could be encouraging about your Merion bluegrass, but really doubt 
that much can be done to stop the ’plague'. Your symptoms sound as though 
it is one of the diseases for which fungicidal control has not proved very 
effective. I dare say that the pathologists at Urbana might isolate a causal 
organism, but even then it’s hard to know what to do. Possibly occasional 
preventive spraying with fungicides, such as actidione with thimer, might 
prove helpful.
"One of the difficulties with highly bred varieties such as Merion is that they 
lose some of the genetic flexibility and variability that the natural Kentucky 
bluegrass had. If this were my lawn, along with such treatment as you might 
undertake, I would bolster seed with bluegrass varieties other than Merion. 
Natural Kentucky bluegrass, harvested from the fields of the Midwest that 
have been in existence for many years would be the most economical type, 
and Park Kentucky bluegrass from a mixture of 12 Minnesota strains would 
also be good.
"I doubt that your trouble is lack of lime or fertilizer. The problem of lawn 
disease is quite nebulous, and especially with new varieties of grass (Merion 
is only a decade old) we haven’t even experienced all of the kinds of disease 
which may eventually afflict the variety. I don’t know that a pathologist could 
certainly identify your disease, but if you cared to send a sod sample to Dr. 
Malcolm Shurtleff, Turfgrass Research, at the State University in Urbana, 
he could at least make a firsthand guess for you as to the cause, and even if 
there may be no ready cure.
"I wish I could be more encouraging, but as you are doubtless aware, seeds­
men have long blended different varieties and species to avoid loss of any one 
kind of grass to some specific epidemic which crops up. Introducing more 
variety into your lawn would really seem the most practical and economical 
course."

DR. SCHERY REPORTS ON NORLEA PERENNIAL RYEGRASS TESTS
The following report on Norlea perennial ryegrass was prepared by Dr. Schery for 
Lawn Institute members and associate members after noting the results obtained in 
the experimental plots at Marysville, Ohip:

"... Norlea was planted in comparison with common perennial ryegrass in 
June of 1960, and has been followed through two summers and one winter 
since. In this climate the winter hardiness is not too much of a consideration, 
since common ryegrass in the tests survived the winter the same as did Nor­
lea. I could see this might be an advantage for Norlea in Canada, where it 
was developed.

"Our test results indicate that in germination and early growth the common 
perennial ryegrass appears a little more quickly, and seems ahead of the 
Norlea (thicker, taller) through the first two or three months of spring and 
early summer.
"By mid-June the slowness of Norlea proves an advantage, for common is 
tending to throw stemmy seed stalks, and when mowed looks less attractive. 
Through July Norlea has appeared a somewhat darker green color, more 
attractive in this respect than common.
"By September both varieties seemed very much alike, and then through 
October into November common again seemed to have the advantage, with 
a somewhat longer green season than Norlea. By early November common 
was definitely more attractive again.
"In summarization it appears as though Norlea is a shorter season variety 
than common, somewhat of a disadvantage in latitudes such as Central Ohio, 
south of the area in which and for which Norlea was selected. Since winter 
hardiness is not a crucial point with us here, there would seem little advan­
tage to the Norlea variety over common. In some seasons Norlea is a little 
more attractive than is common, but in early spring and autumn the reverse 
seems the case.
"Kentucky bluegrass mixed into the variety seems to have equal possibility 
of becoming established, whether in Norlea or common. Thus either variety 
should be an acceptable nursegrass if used in minor proportions in a seed 
mixture."

DR. JAMES TYSON REPORTS ON NEW VARIETIES OF TURFGRASS
Dr. James Tyson, Lawn Institute advisor at Michigan State University, recently 
advanced some views in a communication to Dr. Schery on the issuance of new 
varieties of turfgrass. Highlights from Dr. Tyson’s report are given below. Dr. 
Tyson has been in an excellent position to test and observe at the University’s 
experimental plots over a period of many years, and is not apt to be stampeded by 
short term indications.

"....the issuance of new varieties in turfgrass such as new varieties of 
Kentucky bluegrass is a tough nut to crack. One of the things pointed out 
by Juska and Hanson is that different grasses should be tested under differ­
ent fertility conditions for any one location and in addition they should be 
tested in different climatic areas and under different soil conditions in each.
A point in question in the testing of new varieties is what effect the treat­
ments, fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and other management factors 
have on the characteristics of an individual species or strain of grass such 
as in the case of our testing of common Kentucky, Merion, and Park Kentucky 
bluegrasses.

"In the trials which we have conducted over a period of approximately seven 
years’ testing these three strains, we have found that Merion bluegrass is 
absolutely useless when maintained under a low level of nitrogen fertility 
such as one and one-half pounds during the growing season. -- Thus, for 
people who are going to give the so-called average care to a lawn, common 
Kentucky bluegrass is preferable to Merion bluegrass, whereas for those who 
want to maintain a beautiful, dense turf and they are willing to do the feeding 
necessary, Merion bluegrass is vastly superior.
"-- Park Kentucky bluegrass, as far as feeding characteristics is concerned, 
comes halfway between the other two. -- Park and Kentucky bluegrass look 
very much and act much the same.

"--from past experience we know that it takes more than one or two years 

of testing to warrant drawing conclusions as to the advisability of recommend­
ing a new strain. Sometimes one strain will appear to be very good and under 
a different set of conditions may act entirely different. "
GOLF GREENS TESTED AND FOUND LOW IN POTASSIUM
A recent article by Dr. J. R. Miller of the University of Maryland, brought to 
light a definite lack of potassium in golf greens. Dr. Miller’s testing appeared in 
the BETTER CROPS WITH PLANT FOOD, published by the American Potash 
Institute, under the title of "Turfgrass Needs for Lime and Fertilizer".
In Dr. Miller’s findings it is stated that for all of the golf greens tested, the need 
for phosphorus was small (11%), the need for potassium great (71%). This can be 
explained in that greens are intensively cared for, with ample fertilizer applied, 
but the soluble portions (Potassium) are leached away by regular and heavy irri­
gation.
On new lawns both phosphorus and potassium were generally needed (66% for phos­
phorus, 74% for potassium). On established lawns, which had probably been fer­
tilized from time to time, 38% of the lawns showed the need for phosphorus, 43%
the need for potassium. Golf course fairways were even more marked in phos­
phorus needs, with 46% of those tested being low in phosphorus, only 27% low in 
potassium.
In Maryland the majority of lawns, both new and established, would benefit from 
the additions of lime. The lighter soils of the Coastal Plain were generally low in 
magnesium, especially new lawns that had not been fertilized. In the Piedmont 
such secondary elements were more often adequate, only 23% being low in magne­
sium on new lawns, and 16% on established lawns.
In summary Miller suggests that soils should be tested, limed if below pH of 6.5; 
complete fertilizers be employed, on established lawns with an approximate balance 
of NPK in the ratio 2-1-1.

BITUMINOUS EMULSION AND SILK IN PRE-SEEDED MULCH USED IN
GERMANY
Information has been received that bituminous emulsion and silk are used in a pre­
seed mulch in Germany according to Hessische Saaten GmbH Darmstadt. The 
formula given is 1 part bituminous emulsion, 1 part silk, 2 parts organic fertilizer, 
1 part peat moss, 40 grams per square meter of seed, mixed into 10 parts of water. 
15 liters of this is applied to each square meter (about 3 gallons per square yard).
It might interest some of our seedhouses to work with firms supplying roadside 
mulching materials, such as International Paper which markets Turfiber for large 
scale mulching.
DR. ROBERT SCHERY ATTENDS A.S.A. AND A.S.T.A. MEETINGS IN NEW
YORK CITY
Dr. Robert Schery represented the Lawn Institute at the ATLANTIC SEEDSMEN’S 
ASSOCIATION on November 20 and the Lawn and Turfgrass Division of the AMER­
ICAN SEED TRADE ASSOCIATION on the following day. Also in attendance was 
Lawn Institute Vice President Edward Spears as well as a number of Associate 
Members who are members of the Atlantic Seedsmen’s Association. Dr. Schery 
prepared the following comments on these two important annual meetings:

ATLANTIC SEEDSMEN’S ASSOCIATION - November 20
"The Monday program featured a talk on turfgrass diseases by Dr. Houston 
Couch of Pennsylvania State University. The general tone was that progress 
is being made in the identification and means of control for turfgrass dis­
eases, and in nematode control. Couch mentioned that Actidione has proved 
very effective for control of rust on Merion bluegrass, that Merion is suffer­
ing from a lot of new die out in recent years in his area (especially on golf 
course fairways), possibly due either to Fusarium roseum or Helminthospor­
ium sativum. The Fusarium is known to be in almost all turf areas at all 
times, but had been presumed not disease producing. Use of appropriate 
fungicides brings about recovery of diseased grasses within a few weeks, 
bentgrasses especially.
"Couch mentioned a few of the changes that have come about in disease pre­
vention, with the use of more effective fungicides more correctly applied.
The problems are perhaps more intense as he sees them, being a pathologist 
looking for these troubles, and it is doubtful that home owners will be ready 
in the near future to practice all the disease prevention that such experts 
might think desirable. If they had to do all this, many would turn to paving 
or ground cover other than turfgrass.
"Seed control officials, A. Warren Clapp of Massachusetts, and William E. 
Ozard of New York were on hand, as participants in a panel discussion.”

November 21

LAWN & TURFGRASS DIVISION, AMERICAN SEED TRADE ASSN. -
"The Lawn and Turfgrass Division sessions on November 21 were a little 
more directly concerned with the facts of life concerning the turfgrass in­
dustry. A motion was introduced recommending that Poa annua be designated 
a noxious weed, prohibited in seed mixtures marketed interstate through such 
designation in the amended Federal Seed Act, within tolerances. After con­
siderable discussion, in which the importers took an opposing viewpoint, the 
motion was passed by an approximate 2 to 1 margin. Mr. Ozard was encour­
aged to initiate appropriate action such as he thought helpful to the New York 
State Legislature, now in session.
"Dr. Robert Kalton of Rudy-Patrick Seed Company is chairman of the ’New 
Varieties Committee' of which Dr. Schery is a member. A lengthy discus­
sion reviewed various viewpoints, leading to no conclusion as to what might 
be a suitable road to take guaranteeing breeder’s rights for new introductions. 
Kalton gave the major speech of the morning, in which he reviewed the pres­
ent confused status of this question in turfgrasses, and the lack of any real 
full-time research that might lead us out of the woods. He also stressed, 
that with present tools, it would be possible to produce many improved turf­
grasses, but that this would be no guarantee of being able to sell them. As a 
matter of fact, were such breeding ventures to be entirely successful, we 
would probably lessen rather than increase the total lawn products market, 
since there would be less need for replanting, weed control, and so on.
"Some real fears were voiced following the presentation by Charles Lee (sub­
stituting for Stanley Rollin) of the U.S.D.A., speaking on 'Regulations Affect­
ing Private Turfgrass Breeders’. Apparently Rollin’s office is eager to be 
overseer of new varieties, and would grow proposed varieties under govern­
ment sponsorship to determine whether there was any discernible difference 
between newer introductions and old. Only when they were convinced that 
there was a difference, would the variety be permitted release. Obviously 
there are practical problems involved, entirely aside from the 'socialistic' 
influence. Obvious would be the hamstringing of seed increase in commercial 
marketing until the government had its test and was convinced. Secondarily, 
there were implications in some of the wording proposed that this sort of 
thing might be just the first step in government control as to what could and 
could not be released in the interest of "the public good". Protests from the 
floor on these and other points were vigorous. It was the speaker's belief 
that authority for imposing such regulations already exists within the Depart­
ment of Agriculture, although later on discussion implied that whatever sch 
scheme is developed should be incorporated into the amendments being ad­
vanced now for changes in the Federal Seed Act."

DR. SCHERY REPORTS ON TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF
AGRONOMY MEETING
Dr. Robert Schery attended the American Society of Agronomy 1961 Annual 
meeting held in St. Louis, Missouri, November 27-30, 1961, and prepared this 
special report for HARVESTS:

"Drs. Beard and Daniel, Purdue University, reporting upon bentgrass in 
putting greens, analyzed various complicated forms of nitrogen (amino acids) 
and found a correlation with temperature. The speculation is that bentgrass 
root growth might stop at about 85 degrees because of a higher concentration 
of one amino acid as compared to another.
"Dr. Daniel, with R. Montgomery as co-author, also spoke on putting green 
mixtures, a matter of more practical concern for people building golf greens. 
The general conclusion was that with skilled management you can grow good 
bentgrass on almost any soil, but that certain soil mixes make it easier. The 
group was alarmed that some of the recent calcined clays being introduced 
into greens have not been tested long enough to know whether they may deteri­
orate into an impervious layer,
"Dr. Engel, Lawn Institute advisor at Rutgers, spoke on ’Competition of 
Turfgrass Species Seeded in Mixture’. His main emphasis was that the red 
fescues are very competitive, and if planted in sufficient quantity will crowd 
out not only bluegrass but bentgrass too. Much, of course, would depend 
upon respective quantities of seeds, and skilled seedsmen know enough to not 
"over-crowd" a mixture with any given ingredient.
"Ray Lunt, with co-authors Youngner and Clark, University of California, 
reviewed ’Use of Coated -- Fertilizers on Turfgrass’. Their conclusions 
were that plastic coatings on fertilizer pellets, could be effective. Lunt had 
no information on the economics, however,
"Dr. J. H. Madison, University of California, our advisor, spoke on ’The 
Ecology of Turfgrass Management Practices in Terms of Competition’. I 
say ’spoke’, although his paper was presented by Youngner, since Madison 
didn’t make the meeting. The paper emphasized that watering, frequent 
mowing, fertilization, etc., permit more plants to survive, but that these 
are weaker. He had charts relating to which practice was most effective in 
achieving the particular end result desired realizing that always there must 
be a compromise between differing practices and effects.
"...Norm Goetz, of Oregon, was appointed last year as the New Variety 
Committee reported that his committee advocated the need for some uniform 
testing procedures, but saw no chance for financial support for this at pres­
ent. He also recommended a better exchange of information between research 
groups. Upon his recommendation a standing committee was created to sur­
vey the work in progress, and give an informal summary report each year on 
the subject.

"There was some discussion, too, about horticulture departments having a 
chance to participate in what has so far been mostly an Agronomy show. 
Apparently horticulturists are agitating for their own turfgrass program in 
connection with the Horticulture Society meetings, which society meets with 
the AIBS in autumn. "

"LET’S FACE IT — CRABGRASS IS HERE TO STAY"

by Earl Aronson, AP Newsfeatures

"The man in the store spoke with an authoritative air as he predicted this garden­
ers’ Utopia:

’In 10 years, there will be no crabgrass and grasses will be developed to any 
desired height and stay there.’

"As a clincher, he proclaimed there were plenty of turf experts who should be 
willing to be quoted along this line.
"We went home. As we looked out over the lawn and garden, there came an autumn 
vision.

"The power mower was rusting in a corner and I was reclining comfortably in the 
sun. The lawn resembled a country club green and there wasn’t a sign of crab­
grass.
"Could the man be right? We checked the experts. Have you been smoking rag­
weed? one asked.
"All concurred that tremendous strides had been made in crabgrass control. They 
also said steps had been made toward controlling the growth of grass with chemi­
cals, but that if ever the pipe dream was to come true, it would mean replacing the 
lawn mower with a power sprayer.
"Director Robert W. Schery of the Lawn Institute, Marysville, Ohio, said he ’hated 
to be the one to stomp on joyous speculation, but nature is not so easily conquered 
as your informant seems to imply. ’
"Crabgrass, Dr. Schery holds, 'is a prolific, tenacious and ubiquitous species - 
impossible to stamp out everywhere. ’
"Even were it possible to kill every crabgrass for one, two, three or more years, 
there still would be crabgrass seeds in the soil, since this critter is notorious for 
having only a few per cent of its seeds sprout each year - then others as these 
mature, or are turned over in the heaving of topsoil.
"Crabgrass need not be much of a problem, he added, what with excellent pre- 
emergent and post-emergence control, improved grass seed and more sophistica­
tion in lawn tending. He expects it will be a lesser problem than control of some 
of the perennial invaders...we are planting in cheap seed mixtures for which there 
is no good control at the moment other than hand-plucking or completely sterilizing 
the soil before replanting the lawn. "

CHICAGO "INSTITUTIONS" QUOTES LAWN INSTITUTE AND DR. SCHERY
The publication INSTITUTIONS of Chicago, Illinois, printed a lengthy article based 
on material received from the Lawn Institute. The feature was entitled "Autumn 
Lawn Seeding Is Best" and credited both the Institute and Dr. Schery. Here are a 
few of the paragraphs as they appeared in INSTITUTIONS:

"It is the contention of the Lawn Institute — that the best chance for establish­
ing a good bluegrass-red fescue lawn is from autumn seeding. Bluegrass  
seed mixtures can be successfully sown in spring, but autumn results are 
better,
"Although Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue mixtures do best when sown in 
autumn, they need the boost of abundant fertility to become well established 
before freeze-up — ample fertilizer provides the additional magic for good 
seed. Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue varieties do not get out of hand 
from heavy feeding in autumn.
"-- thickens and builds up a bluegrass-red fescue turf without materially in­
creasing mowing problems.
"-- tests at the Lawn Institute have shown that fertilizers applied to frozen 
ground --
"It takes no expert to detect lawns started in autumn; they are the ones in 
which the bluegrass and fescue have filled thickly enough so that scarcely a
spring weed fights its way through."

CLIPPINGS & GLEANINGS
"...Thank you for sending the Lawn Book. I have enjoyed it immensely.

"One feature of the book I have liked especially, is the cut showing vegetative 
characters of each species and the description of the vegetative characters. I have 
been working on vegetative identification of grasses and hope to photograph speci­
mens. "

NELSON L. RUSSELL 
Associate County Agent 
St. Louis County, Missouri

"I am a teacher at the Muncie Trade School and am writing you in hopes of obtain­
ing information and assistance which will help me develop a new course of study in 
landscaping.

"Therefore, if not asking too much, I would very much appreciate any help you 
might offer, especially in the way of charts, booklets, instruction manuals, etc.
I realize this is asking a great deal, maybe far too much, but if sent these will be 
utilized for several years as reference materials by both my high school and adult 
students, and will become a permanent part of my classroom reference library.
"Without the assistance of bureaus such as your own it would be impossible for us 
to keep ourselves up to date with the development of new products, materials, and 
practices which are constantly occurring, thereby, depriving our young men of 
some very essential knowledge.
"As you well know, if required to rely entirely on textbooks, much of the informa­
tion they contain is already out dated by the time we get them. Whereas, through 
the use of company literature we are not only able to present our students with the 
most accurate and modern data available, but some of the very best from an educa­
tional viewpoint as well. Then too, there is a vast amount of necessary information 
which never finds its way into textbooks in the first place, which makes the use of 
industrial articles even more important to our educational system of today."

SHERMAN L. JOHNSON 
Faculty, Muncie Trade School 
Muncie, Indiana

"Thank you for the fine glossies sent so promptly, and indeed, those are the turf- 
grasses that are going to be boosted! An early-spring-edition of O.G. & F. prom­
ises to carry regional lawn care, So-see you then!"

MARGUERITE P. KUNKEL 
"Organic Gardening & Farming"
"I would very much appreciate receiving this publication (THE LAWN BOOK) as 
soon as possible. You will recall that Arden Jacklin was very anxious that I should 
consult this particular book of yours which I am sure is most outstanding..."

MARGARET HERBST 
Director of Information 
Merion Bluegrass Association.

"Another book, for a man who looks after a lawn is ’THE LAWN BOOK’ by Robert 
W. Schery, published by Macmillan this year for $5.95. Dr. Schery is director of 
The Lawn Institute, located at Marysville. This, I would say, is the best lawn book 
in print."

DISPATCH
"Garden Notes" by Harry R. O’Brien 
Columbus, Ohio 
(December 24, 1961)

"I do hope that next time you are here we can get you long enough to have a luncheon 
or dinner as there would be so many interested in anything you may be able to say 
about lawns. I expect a lot of troubles next year as with the depression we are 
having, people have just not fed their lawns this fall and there is no place this is 
more important because of the irrigating we have to do. Again I want to repeat how 
much I enjoy the material you send me and if at any time I can help you in trial ex­
periments or research please let me know."

DR. HOWARD J. DITTMER 
Professor of Biology 
University of New Mexico

"I appreciate very much getting the material which you sent me. I am sure that I 
will be able to use most of it on the regular TV show in one way or another. These 
large size glossy photographs which you refer to will be fine for us; and if it will 
fit into your schedule, put me down for a regular supply of material which will be 
seasonal in nature and which I can use. These, I presume, will be mostly camera 
card material. A good film if it is free from commercial connections, would also 
be welcome.
"Let me know if you are here at anytime so we can talk further about this."

PAUL B. BERNARD 
Farm Director 
KMOX-TV, St. Louis, Mo.

"...Keep up the good work. There’s much to be done in developing good lawn seed. 
By that we mean good for the homeowner and good for the supplier, the dealer, et 
al. There is entirely too much price cutting in order to stay in business."
CHAN BAKER, Seedsman 
Miami, Florida

PRESS QUOTES - (Excerpts from stories in the nation’s press - many of which re­
flect and even quote from Institute-prepared materials which 
are circulated through the seasonal Press Kits and other Insti­
tute mailings.)

"Cheap lawn grass mixtures make the poorest and most expensive lawns to keep up. 
Containing coarse annual grasses, unfit for permanent lawns, they contain large 
seeds, quick to start, of coarse and tufty growth to crowd out the fine permanent 
lawn or turfgrasses. Kentucky blue and lawn fescue grasses make most satisfactory 
fine lawns except in the South, where such as the Bermuda and other varieties are 
best adapted to permanent lawns. "

MORNING GLOBE 
Boston, Massachusetts

"The bluegrass of Kentucky and Tennessee has a special place among the aristo­
crats of the grass family - animals eat bluegrass greedily and cows produce very 
rich milk and fine flavored butter from its fodder. A cattle breeder of some years 
ago wrote this about bluegrass: ’Whoever has limestone land has bluegrass; and 
whoever has bluegrass has the basis of agricultural prosperity; and that man, if 
he have not the finest horses, cattle and sheep, has no one to blame but himself.
He can hardly avoid doing well if he will but try."

LET’S LIVE 
Los Angeles
("The Mightiness in Leaves of Grass" 
by Royal Lee, Pres. Foundation, etc.)
"The object of this study is to compare solutions of several nitrogenous fertilizers 
with the same materials applied as solids. Through his experiments, Dr. Nowa- 
kowski finds that the nitrate content of permanent and new sown grass is greater 
with solid fertilizers than with solutions and that by delaying the application of fer­
tilizers, the amount of nitrate increases in the grass."

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS 
Journal of Agricultural Science

"More lawn failures can be attributed to poor seeds than any other cause, according 
to turf experts. Seed is a small expense compared to the time and other costs you 
invest in your lawn. You only need to buy good seed once."

"The Lawn Institute is a nationally recognized non-profit association for develop­
ment and dissemination of authoritative information of lawns. "

ALLEN SWENSON
Baton Rouge - STATE TIMES

REPUBLICAN 
Springfield, Massachusetts

"— bluegrass and creeping red fescue are endorsed for good reasons. They grow 
uniformly, they thrive under continuous short clippings, they resist winter killing, 
and they have fine leaves."

Ed Cott
IOWA CHRONICLE

"There are three temporary grasses to choose from - Italian rye, Kentucky blue 
and Redtop. Of the three, Kentucky blue has the nicer color, texture and quality 
and is relatively free of diseases. —"

TRIBUNE 
Tampa, Florida

"Desirable lawn seed mixtures for Pennsylvania contain high amounts of Kentucky 
or Merion bluegrass and red fescue — look for undesirable turf species such as 
ryegrass, timothy, --tall fescue is undesirable in lawn mixtures."

SERVICE

PENNSYLVANIA EXTENSION 
REPORTER (Lansdale)
GAZETTE (Bedford)

"Loosen up the soil... and reseed with Kentucky bluegrass-fescue mixture."

DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE
Rochester, New York

 
"Cheap lawn grass mixtures make the poorest and most expensive lawns to keep up. 
Containing coarse annual grasses, unfit for permanent lawns, they contain large 
seeds, quick to start, of coarse and tufty growth to crowd out the fine permanent 
lawn or turfgrasses. Kentucky blue and lawn fescue grasses make the most satis­
factory fine lawns except in the South, where such as the bermuda and other single 
varieties are best adapted for permanent lawns."

STANDARD 
Sunnyvale, California

"Kentucky bluegrass is the major turfgrass of the Midwest. "

PRESS
Grand Rapids, Michigan

"Look for high percentage of Kentucky bluegrass or Merion Kentucky bluegrass and 
one of the red fescues. In sunny locations the bluegrasses do best, while in shaded 
areas the red fescues thrive.
"Red fescues may be listed as Pennlawn, Illahee, common creeping red or Chew- 
ings.
"But if you're out to grow a lawn that will be the envy of the neighborhood, reject 
mixtures that contain Kentucky 31 fescue, Alta or meadow fescue, timothy, or 
high percentages of the ryegrasses. "

Dr. H. W. Indyk 
MESSENGER 
Allentown, New Jersey

"It pays to use top-quality lawn seed mixtures composed mostly of perennial 
grasses, Kentucky bluegrasses and red fescues. Read the statement of contents on 
the package when buying grass seeds. —"

Paul F. Frese 
PARENTS MAGAZINE

"Normally Kentucky bluegrass is cut at 1-1/2 inches high and late in the fall the 
mower is set to cut at 2 inches and kept there until spring when it is lowered again 
to 1-1/2 inches."

Tobbio Martino 
NEWS
Buffalo, New York

"To date, Merion seeded pure and a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and fescue are 
outstanding plots. Results indicate they will do well under South Jersey soil con­
ditions."

BUSINESS FARMING 
Sea Isle City, New Jersey

"Lawn Institute advises Seeding Lawns in Autumn."

"Most ready-packed lawn seed mixtures contain a generous amount of Kentucky 
bluegrass which has long life and good color in summer and fall --."

INTELLIGENCE - JOURNAL 
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Arthur Otis 
UNION
San Diego, California

"’Cheap seed’ is actually expensive because ’cheap seed’ is made up of -- ryegrass, 
or coarse varieties of fescue. Bluegrass, such as Kentucky — and newer strains, 
although over a dollar a pound, yield potentially over 2 million plants while a pound 
of ryegrass has less than one quarter million — seeds per pound."

Walter Pitzonka 
TIMES
Levittown, Pennsylvania

"Plant winter grass now if you plan to keep your lawn bright green during the cool 
months ahead. There are three temporary grasses to choose from - Italian rye, 
Kentucky blue and Redtop. Of the three, Kentucky blue has the nicer color, texture 
and quality and is relatively free of diseases. --"

SUN
Gainesville, Florida

"Desirable lawn seed mixtures for Pennsylvania contain high amounts of Kentucky 
or Merion bluegrass-and red fescue -- look for undesirable turf species such as 
ryegrass, timothy, — tall fescue is undesirable in lawn mixtures

REPORTER
Lansdale, Pennsylvania

"Seed at rate of about 2 pounds per thousand square feet of a mixture containing 
predominately or totally Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue."

"The three basic lawn grasses for New York State are Kentucky bluegrass, red 
fescue and rough bluegrass --."

FLORIDIAN 
Marianna, Florida

SENECA COUNTY FARM AND 
Waterloo, New York

HOME NEWS

"Desirable lawn seed mixtures for New Jersey contain high amounts of Kentucky or 
Merion bluegrass and red fescue - look for undesirable turf species such as rye­
grass — tall fescue is undesirable in lawn mixtures —."

NEW JERSEY HOME NEWS 
New Brunswick, New Jersey

"Grass seed is generally sold in mixtures of selected grass species. These 
grasses are compatible and will augment each other in a lawn. Each grass species 
has certain growth characteristics. For instance Kentucky bluegrass, for best 
results, is grown in full sun and red fescue —."

SUNDAY NEWS 
New Hampshire

"Kentucky bluegrass (or mixture with red fescue) should be seeded —. Mowing
should start when bluegrass and fescues -- are at least 1-1/2 inches high--.
Cool season grasses, the kind best suited for this area are easiest to start in fall."

"If a fine textured (lawn) is wanted then the seed should be limited to the blue­
grasses, Chewings and creeping red fescue."

MORNING GAZETTE 
Billings, Montana

Bill Youngman 
WASHINGTON STAR

"It’s not too hard now, if good quality seed is used for the red fescue varieties 
make quick cover, while the Kentucky bluegrass knits a tight sod by its vaunted 
rhizoming, says Dr. Robert W. Schery, Director of the Lawn Institute, Kansas 
City."

CLAUDE M. GRAY 
Walla Walla, Washington

"You might also request pamphlets of The Lawn Institute, Suite 600, 1016 Baltimore 
Street, Kansas City 5, Missouri."

STAR-LEDGER 
Newark, New Jersey

"George Ziegler, University of Wisconsin Horticulturist, says that common Ken­
tucky bluegrass is a good choice for a new lawn .... Ziegler suggests that if you 
buy a grass seed mix, buy one that contains at least 60 to 70% bluegrass. Don’t 
buy a grass that contains Kentucky fescue or Kentucky 31 fescue or tall fescue or 
Alta fescue. These will persist in lawns as weeds. The same holds -- for rye­
grass. — Seed about two or three pounds of bluegrass - increase the seeding rate 
slightly if you are planting (fine) fescue along with the bluegrass."

Sun Prairie,
Wisconsin STAR

"Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue seed mixtures do best when sown in autumn, but 
need the boost of abundant fertility to become well established before freeze-up. -- 
Nor do Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue varieties get out of hand from heavy 
feeding in autumn. At this time of year it is normal for bluegrass to produce low, 
short leaves in response to declining day length, --. Tests at the Lawn Institute 
have shown that fertilizers applied to frozen ground -- have a beneficial influence."

Tom Carlson 
JANESVILLE GAZETTE 
Wisconsin

"Best chance for establishing a good bluegrass-red fescue lawn is from autumn 
seeding. That is the contention of The Lawn Institute, — bluegrass seed mixtures 
can be successfully sown in spring, but autumn results are even better."

HAMMOND TIMES 
Indiana

"The unidentified blight strikes Merion bluegrass, a strain which was adopted by 
golf clubs all over the country after its recommendation by the U. S. Golf Associ­
ation — . Large acreages have begun dying out recently. Since the seed is expen­
sive, golf courses are losing not only fairways but a sizable economic investment."

STAR-LEDGER 
Newark, New Jersey

"Since only a few grasses are recommended for use in this area - Kentucky and 
Merion bluegrass, creeping red and Chewings fescues, obviously the others con­
tained in most mixtures are open to question."

Bill Youngman 
STAR
Washington, D. C.

"By reading the label, you can tell the percentage of each kind of seed, and the 
percentage of the seed that is expected to germinate. In this area the mixture 
should contain large amounts of Kentucky bluegrass (or varieties) and red fescue."

JOURNAL-STANDARD 
Freeport, Illinois

"There are many advantages to autumn seeding of lawns but paramount is the fact 
that Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescues and Highland Bentgrass perform best during 
the cooler weather of autumn and spring while the weeds don’t."

EVENING UNION-BULLETIN 
Walla Walla, Washington

"Various strains of Kentucky bluegrass are most often considered the basic grass 
for lawns in the Cedar Rapids area -- Kentucky bluegrass forms a dense sod with 
dark green leaves which are smooth. It has many good points —. "

"Seed mixtures may merit The Lawn Institute ’seal of approval' as a guide to 
adequacy."

Cedar Rapids GAZETTE 
Iowa

TIMES
Trenton, New Jersey

"There are many advantages to autumn seeding, but paramount is the fact that 
Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescues and Highland bentgrass perform best during the 
cooler weather of fall and spring, while the weeds don’t."

GAZETTE-MAIL 
Charleston, West Virginia

"A mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue is good for the shade. These 
grasses are started now. Never use ryegrass with fescue or bluegrass, they grow 
during the same season and the ryegrass will choke out the fescue and bluegrass."

NEWS & OBSERVER 
Raleigh, North Carolina

INSTITUTE GRASSES MAKE HEADLINES AROUND THE NATION
"LAWN INSTITUTE ADVISES SEEDING LAWNS IN AUTUMN" — New Era, 

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

"KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS IS POPULAR FOR LAWN" — Bee, Sacramento, 

California

"KENTUCKY GRASS TOPS" — News Examiner, Connorsville, Indiana
"BLUE GRASS-RED FESCUE MIX BEST FOR PERMANENT LAWN" — Advance, 

Dover, New York

"KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS TOPS" - Enterprise & Times, Brockton, Massachusetts
"BENTGRASS, FINE FESCUE RATED BEST FOR OREGON LAWNS" — Capital- 

Journal, Salem, Oregon