BETTER LAWN

PUBLISHED PERIODICALLY BY THE NEWS BUREAU OF 

BETTER LAWN & TURF INSTITUTE

Harvests

ROUTE 4, KIMBERDALE

MARYSVILLE, OHIO 43040

Volume 13, No. 2

June, 1966

NEW INSTITUTE BOARD AND OFFICERS ELECTED

At the annual meeting held in Kansas City May 24, the following Board of Trustees 
was nominated and elected:

James Carnes, Pacific Northwest Bluegrass Association
Roy Edwards, Jr., W. R. Grace & Co., Rudy-Patrick Seed Division 
Arden Jacklin, Merion Bluegrass Growers Association 
Gustav Kveen, Northern Minnesota Bluegrass Growers Association 
Edward Mangelsdorf, Ed. F. Mangelsdorf & Bro.
Walter McElhaney, Oregon Highland Bentgrass Commission 
Willard McLagan, Pacific Northwest Bluegrass Association 
Gordon Newton, Northrup, King & Co.
Creston Shaw, Oregon Fine Fescue Commission
Edward Spears, Woodford Spears & Sons
Carey Strome, Oregon Fine Fescue Commission

The Board of Trustees elects its own officers. Upon motion by Carnes, seconded 
by McElhaney, incumbent officers were retained for another year subject to con­
firmation of vice presidential candidates by the Fine Fescue and Highland Bent­
grass Commissions at their annual meetings. Thus the officers for the fiscal year 
1966-67 are:

President - Edward F. Mangelsdorf, St. Louis, Missouri 
Secretary-Treasurer - Roy Edwards, Jr., Kansas City, Missouri 
Co-Vice President - Walter McElhaney, western Oregon 
Co-Vice President - Creston Shaw, eastern Oregon
Member Executive Committee - Edward Spears, Kentucky

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The annual meeting was called to order by President Mangelsdorf at 9:20 A.M., May 
24, in Kansas City, Missouri. Nine of 11 Board members and nominees were present. 
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved, as were actions taken by 
the officers during the fiscal year. The Treasurer's audit indicated a continuing 
tight cash position, with current assets chiefly in obligated moneys (such as 
moneys held in escrow for the "Seal of Approval"). The President expressed grati­
fication at the fine cooperation and help from sponsoring groups during the year, 
and felt confident of the future.

The Executive Director presented his review of Institute activities for the year, 
given elsewhere in this issue in detail. Several facets of Institute activity 
were discussed by the Board, and exhibits, such as press clippings, examined.

Particularly discussed were plans for enlarging Institute informational services 
to include radio and TV outlets.

Mr. Carnes, assisted by Mr. McElhaney, reviewed seed production and research in 
northern Europe, showing slides taken on their recent investigative trip through 
several European countries. This excellent presentation gave members a much 
clearer idea of both export markets and the sophistication of European competition.
Representatives of sponsoring groups reported on crop prospects for their parti­
cular grasses and areas, and budgeted support for the Institute in the year ahead. 
Nearly complete loss of the fine fescue crop in eastern Oregon was indicated, due 
to freezing weather. Drought threatened western Oregon with possible reduced 
yields, and late freezes were reported to have damaged the bluegrass crop in Ken­
tucky. Otherwise, production was anticipated fair to good. Mr. Carnes reported 
continuing excellent progress in consolidation of the Pacific Northwest Bluegrass 
Association. Mr. Spears reviewed briefly the Kentucky plans for production of 
certified "Kenblue" Kentucky bluegrass, based upon the genetic qualities of the 
famed Kentucky-grown Kentucky bluegrass proved in that state by natural selection.

Mr. Newton, speaking for the packager group, expressed satisfaction with the slant 
of the Institute program, and suggested perhaps more publicity could be given the 
Seal of Approval, especially in Extension circles. Application of the Oregon 
Rye-grass Commission for admittance to the Lawn Institute was tabled for further 
study. Likewise tabled was further consideration of admitting northern European 
lawngrass producers. The President was to continue contacts with Canadian groups. 
It was felt that working relationships with the sod industry would prove compat­
ible with Lawn Institute objectives, should any joint activities eventuate. Be­
cause of lateness of the hour, the Executive Committee was impowered to decide, 
in consultation with the Executive Director, on matters relating to the Seal of 
Approval, member relationships, press kit activities, and suchlike. President 
Mangelsdorf asked Mr. Newton to serve as chairman of the Membership Committee for 
the year ahead. Mr. Newton will interest himself in Seal of Approval usage, and 
increasing membership contributions.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, FISCAL 1965-66, TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, KANSAS CITY,

MAY 24, 1966

I am pleased to report to the trustees for the fiscal year, no little success in 
our primary efforts of publicizing the various quality lawn seeds represented in 
the Institute. This has been in spite of budget restrictions which in many re­
spects were even more onerous than for the fiscal year preceding. Our most 
spectacular achievements lie in promulgation of the printed word, through (1) 
newspaper pickup, from the press kits; and (2) stories appearing in magazines, 
the readership for which is extended through distribution of reprints. That the 
Institute has been so well accepted in these areas results, of course, from many 
years of careful building. The Institute has earned through hard years of effort 
a position as an authoritative, honest and helpful source of information. Such 
excellent acceptance and so favorable a public image could not have been achieved 
without our full gamut of activities. I am thinking primarily of creating a 
"research atmosphere" by maintaining an Institute testing grounds, by fostering 
liaison and scientific intelligence (as with generously shared facilities of 
Seed Technology, product donation and intercommunication with several sponsors 
and members), and by attending scientific and trade gatherings. It involves,

too, your Director maintaining contacts and engaging in "extra-curricular" acti­
vities at the university level.

Successfully placing stories and headlines is as much a means as an end. Not only 
is it important to have the grasses which sponsor the Institute mentioned by name 
in release materials, but to improve the public appreciation of the industry. We 
must lend a service valued by our "users," that contributes to the betterment of 
gardening, outdoor beauty and the useful employment of turfed areas. And we 
must help guide the industry itself, in production of the highest quality seed 
possible, in cooperating with allied industries, and in appreciation of trends 
and needs of the times.
This year, again, we have endeavored to create public awareness of what are the 
really important features of quality in lawn seed. I feel great progress has been 
achieved in getting people to think in terms of the newer labeling, where "fine- 
textured" grasses receive top billing. Also, findings reported this year put on 
the record for the first time a bird's-eye view of true quality in lawn seed 
reaching market. To this the conscientious producer can point with pride, and 
anticipates even greater accomplishment in the future. Such a reference point 
will have an increasingly wide influence in technical circles that cannot help 
but contribute to Institute "authority," and redound to the good of grasses the 
Institute serves.
As practical proof that this is worthwhile, note that the Institute is now fre­
quently contacted for preparation and creation of reference works which will en­
dure for years. I'm thinking particularly of our being called upon to prepare 
the sections or chapters in various gardening encyclopedias, such as that of The 
Reader's Digest ("Complete Book Of The Garden"), a copy of which is here on the 
table. Similarly authoritative will be presentation of lawns in McCall's and 
Macmillan encyclopedias. Not much less influential are teaching and educational 
"texts" which we have been called upon to devise, edit or criticize (viz. sales 
training aids, as for Smith-Douglass; manual on "Establishing & Caring For Lawns 
& Turf," for The Center for Research and Leadership Development in Vocational & 
Technical Education, Ohio State University; user charts and guides, as for Finn 
Equipment Co. (hydroseeder manufacturer); teaching materials, as for The Spring- 
field and Clark County, Ohio Technical Eeucation Program).

And our books and publications from various years continue to serve an important 
reference purpose; for example, "The Lawn Book" is still the teaching text for 
the largest practical college course in the country, at the University of Mass­
achusetts. "The Householder's Guide To Outdoor Beauty" is still an inexpensive 
leader offered by garden stores (viz. Fairview Garden Shop, Janesville, Wisconsin) 
or on reading racks. Moreover, even when state experiment stations don't utilize 
Institute literature and press kits directly, they seem inspired to copy and 
emulate us with increasing frequency. And we do distribute both press kits and 
literature directly to the Extension Service in a half-dozen major states, this 
passed along to the individual county agents with the blessing of the state 
Extension head. Requests for reprints also come from a number of urban county 
agents individually.
Supplementary activities have continued as in the past. These include cooperation 
with editors and columnists, the answering of correspondence, furnishing of re­
prints to members, administration of the "Seal of Approval," contact and inter­
change of information with a host of major national corporations (particularly

those having to do with lawn products such as fertilizer, pesticides, and equip­
ment) ; and, not least, personalized cooperation with the Oregon Commissions (where 
men such as Dick Kuehner have been valuable in developing leads), and with cooper­
ators at research centers around the nation. Let's examine these activities in­
dividually.

A.  Press Kits - Our press clippings are really becoming too voluminous to tally; 
the box full being circulated (all of them directly attributable to our press kit) 
were garnered from only the first three quarters of our clipping season this 
spring, yet run to nearly 700 items. As of the most recent measurement taken by 
Mrs. Payne, column inches of these clippings totaled 3,134. This represents still 
another year's increase in volume of coverage, representing probably a 107. gain 
over last year's total. This is the sixth straight annual meeting to which I 
have been able to report an unbroken series of "sales" gains in terms of clippings 
caught by our service. And no doubt many additional column inches are inspired 
by our kits, or the information used in them taken from various items of Institute 
literature (our clipping service, up to the time of my departure, had corraled 
this spring 9,228 column inches keyed to our code words, of which slightly more 
than one-third represented direct use of the Institute releases or gave credit 
to the Institute by mention). Mrs. Payne has assembled and Xeroxed seven sample 
pages of such clippings for your sponsoring organizations.
Again this year, as last, budget stringencies have restricted us to but two 
seasonal mailings. That this much coverage comes from but two seasonal mailings 
to only several hundred selected editorial channels, I think reflects quite favor­
ably upon the great acceptance our kit achieves and the confidence it inspires.
In this vein, we are again especially indebted to Earl Aronson, of Albany, New 
York, who has seen fit to mention the Institute and its conclusions in his syn­
dicated AP Newsfeature release utilized all over the country. Here is what Earl 
writes, in our behalf:

"With the coming of spring we made our seasonal contact with Dr.
Robert W. Schery, Director of The Lawn Institute - - - What is the 
best defense against crabgrass, doctor? A thick turf of perennial 
grasses; a dense Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue lawn mowed tall, or 
a thick sward of Highland bent to resist invasion by weeds. Crab­
grass cannot fight shade in tail-mown bluegrass any better than it 
survives under trees. Schery said samples from 2,000 lots of grass 
seed (20 million seeds) checked for weed contamination uncovered 
not a single crabgrass seed. - - - In buying grass seed, know what 
you are getting. Buy where you can get sound advice. Check the 
contents of the package. Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and bent- 
grass mean quality."

No less helpful have been other columnists, such as George Abraham, of the 
Buffalo Courier Express, who passes along lawn inquiries suitable for publica­
tion in his column, to the Marysville office. Our replies not only appear under 
this aegis, but, as you are aware, from time to time George offers our reprints 
as an informational mailing to his readers (requests for which not uncommonly 
run into the thousands).
All in all, we have seen no diminution during the fiscal year in the demand for 
solid lawn information, nor in the tendency for more and more newspapers and 
writers to "get on the bandwagon" with this subject so increasingly important to

homeowners. We are delighted to have various "experts" around the country pass 
along Institute information, with or without credit. Why there seems to be 
regional variation in usage from year to year is hard to explain, except that 
perhaps the clipping service may engage more active readers one year than another 
in a given location. This year, for example, we note almost nothing picked up 
from Missouri, where in previous years our clippings were voluminous, especially 
from the medium size cities. Yet, this year all of a sudden, pickup from the 
satellite communities surrounding New York City has been overwhelmingly voluminous 
as many as 30 pickups in localities such as Mamaroneck (Times), New Rochelle 
(Standard), Mt. Vernon (Argus), Peekskill (Star), Yonkers (Herald Statesman),
White Plains (Reporter Dispatch), Tarrytown (News), Nyack (Journal News), Ossining 
(Citizen Register). As a result New York State totals more than triple the Insti­
tute clipping pickup from the next most voluminous state, Ohio! The next issue of 
Harvests will carry final spring statistics for the months we engage the service, 
showing exactly where we have received greatest attention this year, with sample 
quotes from clippings such as you see circulated here this morning. One can 
hardly feel the year has been in vain, noting the many headlines in behalf of 
sponsoring grasses as are exhibited in the Xeroxed sheets Mrs. Payne has prepared.

B.  Stories And Reprints - One of our most economical means for achieving wide­
spread circulation of Institute information, is through the publication of articles 
and stories, and subsequent enlargement of distribution through reprints. You will 
note from Mrs. Payne’s list of stories that have appeared during the year, that 
again we have achieved coverage which would be the envy of any association, even 
employing a staff many times as large as ours. Indeed, I question that this kind 
of acceptance could be achieved by public relations techniques alone, a point 
mentioned in my introductory remarks. And it is certainly worth saying again, 
that this sort of editorial coverage is valuable beyond price. This is the kind 
of space one cannot buy, placed as it is in a context of credibility. When an 
editor asks for and accepts the story from the Institute, it is automatically 
implied that his magazine endorses the story, unlike paid advertising. I don't 
believe you can find anywhere in the country, no matter the public relations 
talent, an organization that has been able to place so much of this elite coverage 
so advantageously. In fact, year after year, I frankly tell this Board that I 
am amazed that we are able to achieve this, and that I question whether this in­
tensity can continue, especially inasmuch as our Institute is doing less and less 
in the way of "favors" for publishers, editors and others of influence.
We are especially grateful for the help received in further circulating these 
stories after they are reprinted. That this is an extremely economical means of 
spreading the word is self-evident; we pay only the minimal cost of photocopying 
(the magazine has undertaken the main expense of setting type and producing 
plates), and our members and contacts underwrite the costs of passing the reprints 
along. During the year we were especially indebted to the Lloyd Mansfield Co., 
the Columbus Metropolitan Park District, the University of Wisconsin, the Muncie 
Star, the Massachusetts Turf and Lawn Grass Council, the University of Rhode 
Island and the 24th Short Course on Roadside Development (Ohio) for this sort of 
distributional help. Of course the Institute itself uses these reprints as 
"remembrances" at public presentations, for keeping in touch with its technical 
Board of Advisors, for answering inquiries, and as a regular stuffer in mailings 
sent from the Marysville office. During the year the Institute has reprinted for 
distribution nearly 42,000 units.

C.  Harvests - Our quarterly newsletter, Harvests, gives a running account of 
Institute activities during the year. You hardly need today’s review if you have 
noted Institute activities from the 134 pages of this fiscal year’s Harvests 
(nine less than last year). Contained therein are not only resumes of activities 
and contacts, but what we hope are useful bits of information and references 
screened from the increasingly tremendous flow of literature on turfgrass that 
swamps us these days. As I have said other times, an individual could be kept 
busy full time just scanning the turfgrass literature that appears in the many 
journals and publications.

D.  Movie - Except for occasional special request, the movie, "Bluegrass Beauty," 
has now been retired from service because of fiscal stringencies. Total showings 
as of this date are certified as 17,238,600 TV viewers (same as last year),
166,680 live audience (an increase of 1762). It has also been loaned for internal 
usage, as for the Northern Minnesota Bluegrass Association annual growers gather­
ing. There is still some excellent footage in this film, but it should be updated 
by an entirely new format. In the meanwhile, we refer requests for lawn movies
to the Union Pacific ("Miracle Of Grass") or the National Plant Food Institute 
("Beautiful Lawns"), both of which support the Lawn Institute position excellent­
ly, and in whose origination we have played a part.

E.  Miscellaneous - we are indebted to Mr. Jim Carnes for one of the more impor­
tant developmental activities during the year, - organization of an impressive 
"tour" of "one-night stands" by himself and me in the bluegrass producing areas 
in the Pacific Northwest, just prior to the Oregon Seed League meetings in Decem­
ber. We are especially indebted to Arden Jacklin for arranging an excellent 
luncheon gathering in eastern Washington, in spite of an unseasonable snow that 
snafued travel. All of you are now familiar with this important attempt to con­
solidate the Pacific Northwest Bluegrass Association, and I won’t dwell here 
upon the presentations made. On the table is a copy of the exhortative and in­
formational handout given attendees. I expect that Mr. Carnes and Mr. Jacklin 
may have more to say about this when they report for their groups.

We continue to maintain a photographic library, of Kodachromes "for the record" 
and for showing at public presentations, and of black-white prints for publica­
tion. Budget limitations have prevented any significant increase in the files, 
although from time to time we have begged from others, if not taken ourselves, 
photos of up-to-the-minute interests. Examples include the interest-catching 
air cushion mower (on loan to us from Toro), and various de-thatching devices.
We should be continuously updating the file of photographs, since these are 
often of telling importance for stories. They are also very useful as an offering 
to editors and newspapers (this year none were included in the press kits, but we 
have supplied occasional illustrations upon request). There is increasing need to 
develop a file of color films, more and more being used both in newspapers and 
magazines.
Handling of correspondence by the Marysville office continues at a steady pace. 
There is a certain amount of homeowner inquiry. Useful and helpful answers are 
framed for key situations, such as when columnists seek information to relay in 
turn to readers or inquirers (thus amplifying our reach). It has been possible 
to help both the Highland Bentgrass Commission and the Fine Fescue Commission with 
certain inquiries they receive, such as from golf courses in the eastern part of 
the country. A survey of opinion was undertaken for Oregon Penncross growers, as 
a courtesy service. There’s no point in my listing here the letterhead names of

the many firms with which the Institute has corresponded during the year; they 
would be little changed from the two pages exhibited in my last year’s report.

There has been continuing interest in, and servicing of, the winterseeding pro­
motion in the Southeast. Especially noteworthy was the cooperative release of 
Vol. 13 of the "Southern Turf Newsletter," mailed widely without cost to us by 
Ray Jensen’s Southern Turf Nurseries. Our "Fine-textured Winterseeding" was a 
featured article. With a special financial contribution from the Fine Fescue 
Commission, our own mailing to southern newspapers was made in late summer, and 
seems to have brought results. Free seed for further experimentation was furnished 
to eight researchers in the Southeast this year, and reports have been received 
from several. An example is from Dr. Burt at the Everglades Experiment Station, 
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for which he reports that the Lawn Institute mix rated 
third out of 17 combinations tried this year, in independent rating by three local 
experts (Penncross bentgrass rated first, and a combination of Penncross bentgrass 
with Kentucky bluegrass and Poa trivialis second). It would have been nice to have 
visited with and encouraged these researchers in person, but with crowded and ex­
pensive conditions that prevailed in Florida during winter it seemed unwise to 
expend our limited travel moneys. All in all, we feel that interest has now been 
spurred in winterseeding, and that from now on commercial interest must largely 
carry the ball. It will be well to plan future survey visits, however, both to 
gain information and to encourage further fine-textured grass usage. It is hoped 
that travel moneys will be sufficient in the season ahead both for a winter visit 
to the Southeast, and for some suitable publication of winterseeding through the 
mailing of stories. One such story is planned for Resort Management Magazine, 
September issue.

We continue to do as much as is possible with the Institute grounds, with the 
limited part-time help that we can afford. The Institute pays no rental for 
grounds, nor for storage space for equipment and supplies. Certainly it should 
not look to indefinite charity in its "research activities," and should anticipate 
at least modest capital expenditures to update equipment and storage facilities.
We continue to be indebted to Toro, Deere, Smith-Douglass (donation of $500 in 
support of outdoor plots) and many others who furnish supplies and equipment.

The Marysville office has this year, as last, had to operate without the advan­
tages of outside hired talent such as the Bozell and Jacobs service in Kansas City 
used to provide. Such special liaison is needed for television, radio and similar 
contacts; and for creative efforts in art work, design, newspaper mats, and so on.
Our leaflets, books and publications have enjoyed excellent usage this year for 
teaching purposes. These are frequently sent out without charge to vocational 
schools, libraries, sales training centers, military service facilities, and so 
on. The Institute is listed in several important national reference volumes as a 
source of lawn information.
The mailing list for press kits and other releases continues to be one of our 
important assets. Mrs. Payne, in such spare time as is available to her, winnows 
and checks this to the extent possible. We try to remove dead addresses, and 
add new ones of particular significance.
Liaison has continued with the Institute's "Board of Advisors," experts at research 
centers throughout the nation. By and large our contacts remain up-to-date, but 
personal visits that would cement relationships better have had to be limited.

As to regions, there has not been opportunity to visit the important southwestern 
market area for several years.
We have been able to keep pretty well in touch with important tangential indus­
tries, such as those relating to the nursery field and the roadside - largely 
because Ohio is very often a center for these activities. Particularly gratifying 
has been the cooperation with the Ohio State Highway Department, in its sponsor­
ship (along with Ohio State University) each year of the Short Course on Roadside 
Development, attended by the highway landscape architects from most states and 
many foreign countries. It was our privilege to appear on the Short Course pro­
gram last year, and the talk "Buying Seed For The Roadside" has appeared in the 
Proceedings. This activity was carried out cooperatively with the ASTA, and I am 
pleased to report that the ASTA representative, Mr. William Cromer, who attended 
the sessions, reported to ASTA officers favorably on our appearance as:

"In my opinion, this is the best prepared non-technical paper on 
purchasing seed. It should have relieved the fears that anyone 
might have as a purchaser of highway seeds."

I have been privileged during the year, also, to make a number of personal appear­
ances of direct benefit to the Institute program, such as at the Alabama Turfgrass 
Conference, Missouri Turfgrass Conference, The Garden Center, Kansas City, Wiscon­
sin Turfgrass Conference, Columbus Rose Club, Ohio Wesleyan University Lawn Seed 
Seminar, Ohio State University seminars on lawns and turfgrasses, etc. It was 
also possible to visit with the Oregon Commissions, and Pacific Northwest Blue­
grass Association during the year.

All in all, I believe this adds up to another fiscal year in which you can take 
pride. Additional needs and opportunities are by no means lacking, but we have 
a hard core of accomplishment to build from. The Institute is in position to 
profit greatly from relatively minor extra expenditures, such as for adequate 
photographic equipment, expanded grounds activity, and stepped-up national contacts
May I take this occasion to express my personal thanks to each member of the Board, 
and especially to President Mangelsdorf, for support and encouragement given 
through the year. And we all are much indebted to Mr. Carnes for his organiza­
tional work in behalf of bluegrass in the Northwest. It has been a pleasure to 
have served the Lawn Institute as its Director for another year, and I thank you 
again for your continuing confidence.

Robert W. Schery, Executive Director

DEERE PEOPLE VISIT INSTITUTE

A delegation headed by Mr. Roy Mattson, Deere Co., Divisional General Manager, 
visited the Lawn Institute grounds in early May, to demonstrate an "estate" size 
tractor with a de-thatching attachment. The thatch device is of a flexible-tined 
design, and was tried on fine fescues, bluegrass and closely-clipped bentgrass. 
Its ability to lift thatch seems good. Several fertilizer treatments have been 
superimposed upon the turf strips that had the thatch removed. The Deere Company 
spoke of leaving one of the estate mowing tractors on loan with the Institute.
The visitors were supplied with a full "portfolio" of Institute literature.

ANOTHER NEW OUTLET FOR SPONSORED FILM

Modern Memos indicates expanding interest in use of sponsored films for jury rooms, 
where perspective jurors are forced to wait many hours pending possible selection. 
There would seem to be no end of opportunities for a good lawn film similar to 
"Bluegrass Beauty."

MORE REPRINTS USED
The Institute was pleased to send to Northrup, King for distribution, 200 copies 
of the reprints "Buying Seed For The Roadside" and "Lawn Zip And Zoom." It is 
always helpful to have members and associates disperse Institute materials.

RECREATION GROUP INQUIRES
Rho Phi Alpha, professional recreation fraternity of North Carolina State Univer­
sity, inquired of the Lawn Institute, particularly about loan of "Bluegrass Beauty" 
film for meetings involving fraternity members, faculty and up to 250 students.
We regret that "Bluegrass Beauty" is not really servicing such requests any more, 
but a selection of reprints was sent to the president of Rho Phi Alpha in the 
hope that these might substitute as give-aways at one of the sponsored meetings.

READER'S DIGEST GARDENING ENCYCLOPEDIA

The Reader's Digest "Complete Book Of The Garden" made its appearance in May. This 
was a volume prepared under the general editorship of Thomas Everett, of the New 
York Botanical Garden, and for which Dr. Schery was consultant and author of most 
of the lawn text. Basically, this 900-page volume is an adaptation of an English 
gardening encyclopedia, for which Reader's Digest obtained North American rights. 
The voluminous illustrations are entirely line drawings, colored, often utilized 
directly from the English plates. The volume is comprehensive, and presents an 
attractive appearance. Members interested in purchasing copies can secure these 
from the Reader's Digest, Pleasantville, New York. A special advanced price of 
$6.96 per volume has been offered by the Reader’s Digest, to names recommended by 
contributors. Members wishing to obtain a copy might write Reader's Digest 
directly, indicating that Dr. Schery of the Lawn Institute had suggested purchase 
at this advance price.
As to Chapter 17, "Lawns And Their Maintenance," almost the whole chapter had to 
be rewritten for American conditions. However, the publishers appear still to 
have tried to utilize a few doubtfully useful illustrations, the captions for 
which are sometimes questionable (viz. page 348, "Tread to firm the soil," show­
ing feet stomping the seedbed, hardly the method in America!) Although abridge­
ments and illustrations of which Dr. Schery had no control were necessary, the 
lawn text is generally faithful to North American conditions. The chapter begins 
"North America presents so many diverse habitats that no single type of lawn fits 
all locations. The nearest approach to universality is Kentucky bluegrass and 
fine fescue - -." Successive sections deal with planting a new lawn, seedbed 
preparation, planting the lawn, mulching, nursegrasses, starting lawns vegeta­
tively, choice of grass, care of the lawn (under several categories of attention). 
For northern lawns bentgrasses, fine fescues and bluegrasses are featured. It

was possible to introduce explanation of newer labeling, involving the "fine- 
textured" and "coarse kinds" categories. The text reads "Grasses of the fine- 
textured category include the Kentucky bluegrasses, the fine or red fescues, the 
bentgrasses and a few other specialty sorts - -."
There is the admonition: "Beware of even small percentage of "coarse kind" 
grasses if these are persistent in your climate. For instance, tall fescue - not 
to be confused with the fine or red fescues - can be a nuisance, crowding out 
better grasses that cannot take hold so quickly."
As to bentgrasses, the discussion opens "The more erect-growing types such as 
Highland are used for lawns and fairways - -"; and later "Highland, Astoria and 
Exeter, among the ’colonial’ or lawn bents, are available as seed - -." The fine 
fescues are described as "tolerant of shade, poor soils and dry habitat, and are 
quicker to sprout than Kentucky bluegrass. Fescues make a good companion for 
bluegrass, substituting nicely for quick-sprouting impermanent nursegrasses and 
helping to colonize a less favorable growing location - - varieties include 
Chewings, Illahee, Pennlawn, Rainier, all produced in Oregon; - 
tucky bluegrass, "the most widely-used species for lawns, Kentucky bluegrass, 
yields excellent sod - - most varieties are not hard to care for - - recover 
well - - Merion is a somewhat lower-growing variety, very dense and attractive.
- - other well-known varieties include Arboretum - - Park, Prato - -."

As to Ken­

A gardening encyclopedia such as this, sponsored by so ubiquitous a champion as 
the Reader’s Digest, should have widespread influence. We are pleased that the 
Lawn Institute is mentioned, and was called upon in design of the text pertain­
ing to lawns.

DISTRIBUTES REPRINTS
Smith-Douglass, Norfolk, has ordered 35 copies each of ten different reprints 
for distribution to and enlightenment of sales personnel. We are gratified that 
Institute information is thus going directly to the heart of lawn and garden 
activity.

BLUEGRASS, FESCUE DROUGHT SURVIVAL
Wood and Buckland, in the Agronomy Journal, Jan.-Feb. 1966, report upon compara­
tive survival of several bluegrasses and fine fescues during sprouting and seed­
ling stages, under artificially induced drought. It is doubtful such extreme 
variations would show in planting to outdoor soils with a more durable reservoir 
of moisture. It also seems likely that some of the differences reported for 
varieties are more a difference between lots of seed than inherent in the variety. 
Nevertheless, the conclusions may be instructive as indicating performance under 
circumstances similar to complete neglect of a new seeding after an initial irri­
gation.
Seedings in the growth chamber were provided normal watering for six days, then 
subjected to six days of drought (generally beyond the wilting point); then 
watered, and subjected to another six days of drought; watered again, dried again; 
and so on through repeated cycles of varying length. This provided a severe test 
of a seedling’s ability to survive and later recoup.

For ultimate ability to survive, as indicated by presence of the grass after a 
couple of months, there was advantage to seed that sprouted sporadically or late. 
That way it escaped the early periods of stress (which were the most severe in 
this test). Thus Merion led in percentage of seedlings surviving after 65 days, 
primarily because earlier sprouting bluegrass varieties and fine fescues had 
suffered losses during the severe sixth to 28th day desiccations, before much 
Merion was started.
On the whole, initial sprouting was faster for the red fescues than for the blue­
grasses, as would be expected. However, Park bluegrass emerged faster than did 
other bluegrasses, and was actually ahead of some fine fescues as well. Some 
common Kentucky bluegrass was not far behind. Rainier and Pennlawn were a little 
slower to sprout than other fine fescues, and ultimately appeared a bit more ad­
vantageously, perhaps for this reason (as noted for Merion).

Keeping in mind that circumstances of the test were artificial, here are a few 
of the authors’ conclusions expressed in the abstract of the paper. "Initial 
emergence of the red fescues under moist conditions was considerably faster than 
for the bluegrasses, but Pennlawn and Rainier red fescues were significantly slower 
than Park Kentucky bluegrass. Rainier red fescue appeared to have somewhat greater 
resistance to vegetative desiccation resulting in death than the other fescues."

"Evidence was obtained that new fescue seedlings could emerge, and that generally 
bluegrasses could not, during brief moist intervals between periods of drought.
- - Following - - the induced drought Chewings - - had significantly fewer seed­
lings than did the other fescues. - - Except after the final severe period of 
stress, red fescue seedlings were generally present in significantly greater 
numbers than were the bluegrasses."
The authors found no advantage to the named varieties of fine fescue as compared 
to common Creeping Red. Newport bluegrass was about as delayed in sprouting as 
was Merion, and ultimately benefited to some extent the same as did Merion on 
this account. Arboretum, Windsor and Delta were none of them distinguished by 
either particularly rapid or particularly slow germination, with their ultimate 
survival suffering accordingly. The authors conclude "On the basis of results 
presented, Park and Merion, among the bluegrasses, might well be chosen for spring 
and summer seedings in preference to others."

SEED GERMINATION STUDIES 
Studies in Israel, reported in the March-April 1966 Agronomy Journal, relate 
oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration to germination of several grass seeds 
(principally the wheatgrass group). Compared to wheat, the grasses were much 
more sensitive to adequate oxygen in the germinating environment. Small percen­
tages (around 7%) of carbon dioxide were apparently helpful in stimulating germi­
nation if oxygen was adequate (13%), but larger percentages (15% and above) were 
inhibitory. The study suggests that most grasses require an adequate oxygen at­
mosphere for good germination; by implication would not germinate optimally buried 
in compact soil.

STANFORD RESEARCH INSTITUTE COMPILATION

The Lawn Institute was asked to complete the Stanford Research Institute question­
naire involving "Study of Research Activities in the United States." SRI is cur­
rently looking into research activities carried out or sponsored by various trade 
associations, and was interested in several activities of the Lawn Institute. We 
were pleased to cooperate in providing information, although the scanty research 
efforts by the Lawn Institute must appear "peanuts" compared to that of most 
major associations. But it does point up the interest in research, and the public 
relations value of it. We hope that someday the Lawn Institute will be able to 
make a major contribution.

RESEARCH GRANT
We are delighted that the Smith-Douglass fertilizer division of the Borden Company 
has granted the Lawn Institute $500 towards maintenance of the outdoor testing 
grounds at the Marysville office. This will help greatly with routine mainten­
ance. In return, Nutro fertilizers will be utilized in several ways, and the 
demonstrations made accessible to Smith-Douglass personnel. Dr. Schery will pre­
pare reports from time to time on product performance, and review turfgrass mat­
ters with Smith-Douglass personnel.

WHERE INSTITUTE KITS MOST USED

Although in compiling press kit tally for the annual meeting, not all clippings 
contracted for were yet in, the trends were pretty clear as to where the press 
kits were finding greatest service this year. There was gratifying usage of 
Institute stories, with 728 clippings noted that directly copied or quoted from 
the Institute, or could be attributed to the Institute (often with by-line credit)
Far and away greatest usage was in the state of New York, with a total of 202 
items attributable to the Institute picked up by our clipping service. The great­
est majority of these were in the suburban New York City area, north along the 
Hudson and towards Connecticut. White Plains, mostly in its Reporter-Dispatch, 
saw 33 Institute release items. Almost as frequent were items in the Port Chester 
Item (28), the Ossining Citizen Register (25), the Tarrytown News (23), and the 
Nyack Journal News (17). Other prominent New York City suburban papers in Peeks­
kill, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mt. Vernon, and Mamaroneck carried the Institute 
stories multiple times. Stories were also carried in upstate and western New 
York, Buffalo (4 items), Syracuse (3), Lockport (3), Elmira (2), with a scatter­
ing of other locations including Albany, Niagara Falls, Ithaca, Troy, Rome, New 
York City, Hudson, Amsterdam, Springville, etc.

The state making next greatest use of the kit stories was Ohio, with 58 the news­
paper tally at the same date. It was gratifying to have so important a paper as 
the Cincinnati Enquirer, which used 14 stories, heading the list. Other users 
of multiple items were the Willoughby News Herald (Cleveland suburbs), the Canton 
Repository, and the Middletown Journal. Other important appearances were Lebanon, 
Salem, Mansfield, Upper Sandusky, London, Youngstown, Hamilton, Perrysburg, Sid­
ney, Massillon, Newark, and elsewhere.

Next there came a closely grouped series of states with Illinois having 59 appear­
ances, Indiana 35, Pennsylvania 35, Massachusetts 33, Michigan 33 and New Jersey 
32. Then came Wisconsin, Maryland, Colorado, Rhode Island, Iowa, California, 
Virginia, Maine, Connecticut, Nebraska, North Carolina, Minnesota, Kansas, in 
that order, with most of the remaining states with just one or a few items each.
In most of these states we were well impressed with both the size and the quality 
of the readership - especially a suburban audience around metropolitan areas.

INSPIRED BY INSTITUTE MATERIALS?
Here are some of the lawn comments in the May issue of "Kingwood Center Notes" 
(Mansfield, Ohio). Reference is to lawn weeding, much as discussed in our reprint 
"Lawn Weeds . . . Don’t Let Them Rob You." Kingwood concludes: "Unfortunately, 
there still are some weeds such as coarse fescues for which the only control is 
the laborious, primitive method of hand digging. Best and most complete control 
yet is still a thick, tight turf. - - Really, it is not so difficult. Annual 
fertilization and high mowing (2 inches or more) will go a long way towards giving 
you the desirable lawn you would like to have."

REPRINTS FOR VOCATIONAL SERVICE
Dr. Norman Feingold, B'nai B'rith Vocational Service, requested Institute mate­
rials for his Washington, D. C. activities. References will be listed in the 
Counselor’s Information Service periodical distributed to high schools, univer­
sities and libraries. We are delighted to have Institute items serve this useful 
vocational activity.

CATHOLIC BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE
Catholic Building and Maintenance Magazine, March-April issue, carried the Insti­
tute story with by-line entitled "Lawns And The Water Shortage." Sample sentences 
"Among the fine-textured grasses, the fine fescues stand out for adaptability to 
dry, poor-soil conditions. - - Mature fescue turfs are especially tenacious in 
dry shade, where other species do less well. You will find among the fine fescues 
such varieties as Chewings, Illahee, Pennlawn, Rainier and Creeping Red." Nor are 
the Kentucky bluegrasses slouches when it comes to ’sitting out' drought. Ken­
tucky bluegrass is at its best in fertile, well-drained ground - - so, by natural 
inclination is reasonably undemanding of water. - - Bluegrass revives from under­
ground parts with the next soaking."

AN APPRECIATION
"Dear Dr. Schery: We are enclosing a copy of the material in off-farm agricul­
tural occupations which you reviewed for us last fall. We regret that we have not 
been able to get this to you any sooner. However, the demand for these items from 
schools was greater than was first anticipated and our original supply was soon 
exhausted. Many comments indicate that these materials have been well accepted 
and are in demand in the field.

We feel that a great part of the credit should go to you and we are sending this 
to you as a token of our appreciation for your cooperation.

Thank you again for your assistance in this important task." - Robert E. Taylor, 
Director, Vocational and Technical Education, Ohio State University.

BLUEGRASS UNDER LOW MOWING
A. G. Law, Pullman, Washington, reports on the "Performance of Bluegrass Varieties 
Clipped At Two Heights" in the May issue of Weeds, Trees and Turf." A number of 
cultivars were tested at 1/2 inch and 1 inch mowing heights. As is well known, 
closer mowing reduced rooting. Law contrasted what he considers "dwarf" types 
(Merion, Newport, Washington's release Cougar, components of Cougar, and a Jacklin 
experimental 0217), with Delta as an example of a taller bluegrass. One might 
question this concept of "dwarfness!" In any event, in the data reported, Delta 
suffered more from low mowing than did the other named varieties. No clear-cut 
recommendation is offered, although it is recognized that certain varieties per­
sist under low mowing better than do others.

SEED LONGEVITY IN SOIL
Oregon State University research by Rampton and Ching, reported in the March-April 
1966 Agronomy Journal, showed that seed buried at shallow depth was less long- 
lived than that buried deeper. Perennial ryegrass lost viability most rapidly, 
followed by orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, Chewings fescue (after 
three winters), Highland bentgrass, annual ryegrass and red clover. Two con­
clusions seem warranted. Most grasses would seem to have little potential after 
a couple years in the soil of contaminating soil by residual seed (an exception 
being Highland bentgrass and annual ryegrass); and that perennial ryegrass is 
strikingly different from annual ryegrass in that it is the least viable, while 
annual is the most tenacious, of the species tested. As a potential contaminant 
of future seed fields, annual would seem a much more serious risk than perennial 
ryegrass.

RE IMPORTED SEED

By implication, Fred Grau applauds domestic seed in his "Answer" column in the 
April Golfdom, viz. " - - objectionable things such as: rough-stalk bluegrass 
in Merion Kentucky bluegrass or Poa annua in imported grass seed."

GERMINATION SUSPENSION
Dick Stamm, American Excelsior, developing uses for excelsior as a roadside seed­
ing mulch, telephoned to discuss certain recent experiences. Apparently deriva­
tives extractable from excelsior have an influence on germination, particularly 
with crownvetch. This has led to interest in means of controlling germination, 
through some practical combination of temperature and storage atmosphere. In 
one bag of trial bluegrass treated for preliminary germination, further sprouting 
was halted by substituting nitrogen for oxygen in the seed atmosphere, without 
disadvantage to later germination. The hope is to find some way whereby seed

can be brought to the verge of sprouting, then "turned off" until ready for appli­
cation in a hydraulic seeder-mulcher.

IOWA RECOMMENDATIONS ON LAWNS AND ATHLETIC FIELDS

Institute advisor for Iowa, Eliot Roberts, recently provided a series of reprints 
that included Iowa State University publications for making and maintaining lawns 
and athletic fields in that state. Kentucky bluegrasses and fine fescues are 
recognized as prime grasses for both. Im pamphlet 312 ("Lawns For Better Living"), 
readers are advised: "Since Kentucky bluegrass and Creeping Red fescue are the 
two species of grass making up most of the lawns in Iowa, fertility program 
should be adjusted (for them)." In pamphlet 314 ("Play Safe - Football And Ath­
letic Fields Should Be Turfed"), one reads "Then overseed with a mixture of about 
50 to 75% Kentucky bluegrass and 25 to 50% Creeping Red fescue -

SEED WORLD MARCH 25
Did you notice that Seed World of this date reached way back in the Institute old 
photo file for its cover picture? Of course the magazine kept "up to date," too, 
by using Dr. Schery's "Spring Lawn ’Do's", in the Bulletin Board suggestions 
section. Sample paragraph: "For bolstering thin turfs, use only quality seed. 
Some nursegrass is acceptable, but be sure the mainstay bluegrasses and fine 
fescues are present. Highland bent can be overseeded to bentgrass lawns."

WINTERSEEDING REPORT
Report has been received from Dr. D. G. Sturkie, Auburn University, on the cooper­
ative winterseeding work undertaken last autumn, and observed through winter and 
spring. Dr. Sturkie utilized the Lawn Institute mix on both Tifdwarf and Tif- 
green bermudagrass, - without special preparation, with especially close mowing, 
and with verti-cutting combined with mowing and topdressing. The best establish­
ment on the Tifgreen came from the latter more elaborate treatment. Without some 
treatment there was little establishment until the bermuda had been turned dormant 
by cold. However, with the lower-growing Tifdwarf bermuda all methods of seeding 
were about equally successful. Dr. Sturkie reports that the Lawn Institute mix­
ture has been consistently green through winter until the end of April, and is 
now thinning out as bermuda revives. He notes, "The transition from wintergrass 
to bermudagrass this spring has been excellent with Tifdwarf bermuda. The 
Tifgreen cut at lawn heights has not come out as well at the present time where 
the wintergrass was planted."

HELPFUL HEADLINE
We are delighted that a Lawn Institute photo heads the lead article in the spring 
issue of the Massachusetts Turf and Lawn Grass Council "Turf Bulletin." The 
article is by Bredakis and Zak, entitled "Turf Along Massachusetts Highways."

We are particularly pleased that the caption with the photo reads much as origi­
nally provided, viz. "Parkway highways are the new look of the Interstate System - 
beautiful as well as useful. Lawngrasses such as the Kentucky bluegrasses and 
red fescues fill a role along roadsides because of low growth and fine texture."

For some time the Lawn Institute has believed in and been working towards greater 
usage of fine-textured grasses for the roadside, in place of so much employment 
of "coarse-kinds." A prominent caption, in a semi-technical bulletin such as this, 
should prove most helpful in putting the point across in the Northeast.

STORIES AND REPRINTS APPEARING DURING FISCAL YEAR

"Seed For Sod" - Parks & Recreation
"Lawn Seed, And What's A Weed" - American Horticultural Magazine 
"Landscape For Casual Living" - Popular Gardening & Living Outdoors 
"Seven Million Seeds In One Pound Of Grass Seed" - The American Cemetery 
"Spring Lawn Improvement" - Seed World
"Fine Fescues Acclaimed For Lawns" - Seed World 
"Bentgrass For Garden Nooks" - Seed World 
"Use Bluegrass To Rid Lawn Of Real Culprits" - Muncie Star 
"Lawn Institute Elects Officers" - Seed Trade News 
"Quality Lawns For Fine Roses" - Canadian Rose Annual
"Closer Industry Cooperation Seen By Lawn Institute" - Lawn/Garden/Outdoor 

"Fescue Facts" - Gardener's Forum (American Horticultural Society) 
"Fine-Textured Winterseeding" - Southern Turf Newsletter 
"Highland Bentgrass Seed Astronomical" - Seed World 
"Lawns With A Future" - Park's Floral Magazine
"Fall Offers Ideal Growing Conditions For New Lawns" - Lawn/Garden/Outdoor 

Living

Living

"Pure Grass Seed" - 1965 Alabama Turfgrass Conference 
"Maintenance Of Lawns" - 1965 Alabama Turfgrass Conference 
"Lawn Renovation" - Seed World
"Good Lawn Seed Sprouts Fast" - Seed World 
"Seed Selection Is Important" - Golfdom
"Mulches For Seeding" - 1965 Missouri Turfgrass Conference 
"Lawn Seed Without Weeds" - 1965 Missouri Turfgrass Conference 
"Air Cushion Mowing" - Weeds, Trees & Turf
"How Researchers Scratch For The Ideal Grass" - National Observer (consultation) 
"Fertilize Fine Fescues, Bluegrass" - Seed World
"This Remarkable Kentucky Bluegrass" - Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden
"The Migration Of A Plant" - Natural History
"Fine Fescues Arouse National Interest" - Grounds Maintenance
"Lawn Seed And Lawn Weeds" - Seed World
"The Latest News About Lawns" - Horticulture
"Lawn Zip And Zoom" - The Gardener
"Quality Bentgrass Proves Compatible With Bluegrass In 4-Year Turf Tests" - 

Lawn/Garden/Outdoor Living

"Start Your Lawn Planning Now" - Resort Management 
"Common Sense Lawn Care" - Flower Garden 
"Lawns In Landscaping" - Quality Courts The Reporter 
"Lawns And The Water Shortage" - Seed World
"Buying Seed For The Roadside" - Proceedings of the 24th Short Course on 
"Why Not Bentgrass Blends?" - Golfdom 
"Spring Lawn Seeding" - Seed World
"Looking To Turfgrass Quality" - 1966 Wisconsin Turfgrass Conference 
"The Lawn Seed Industry Grows Up" - Crops & Soils

Roadside Development

"Lawn Weeds” - Resort Management
"Good Seed Makes Good Sod” - Massachusetts Turf Bulletin 
”A Green Carpet” - Columbus, Ohio Rose Club 
”A Sure Sign Of Spring - Seed Trade News 
"Spring Lawn 'Do,s'" - Seed World
"Lawns And The Water Shortage” - Catholic Building & Maintenance 
"About Lawns” - Flower & Garden 
"Handbook For Lawngrasses” - Horticulture 
"Lawns And Their Care” - Macmillan

FINE PRESS COVERAGE
A story essentially that distributed in the press kit was widely placed by Insti­
tute member, Asgrow Seed Company. Its typical headline was "What You Want In 
Lawn Seed Makes Big Price Difference,” frequently shortened editorially to ’’Choose 
Lawn Seed Wisely,” "Use For Different Seeds,” "Price Not Only Factor In Seed,” 
"What Price Lawn Seed?,” "Grass Seed Can Be Puzzling,” "Analyze Grass Seed Before 
You Buy,” and so on. In each case the text was the same, opening by comparing 
price discrepancies, then pointing out the real quality difference (in terms of 
”fine-textured” grasses) determinable by the label. Highland bentgrass, Kentucky 
bluegrass and its variety Merion, and ’’red fescues such as Chewings, Illahee and 
Pennlawn” are all named. In some cases a photo furnished by Asgrow accompanied 
the text.
Partial checking of the clippings for April and early May showed this item to have 
been used in 3 Connecticut papers, 1 Florida, 2 Illinois, 1 Indiana, 1 Kansas, 2 
Kentucky, 1 Louisiana, 1 Maine, 2 Michigan, 1 Missouri, 1 Montana, 1 New Jersey,
1 New York, 2 Ohio, 4 Pennsylvania, 1 Tennessee, and 2 Wisconsin. Certainly this 
is widespread distribution, of a very useful story.

LAWN PAGE
The April 22 Seed World carried several items on lawns in its Garden Center Sec­
tion, including "Warmth Helps Lawn Sprouting” from the Institute kit, and "Why 
Lawns Don’t Grow Well In The Shade” by Dr. Beard, Michigan State (Institute 
advisor). Sample sentence: ”In addition to getting more seeds for the money in 
each pound of a good bluegrass-fine fescue blend, the purchaser also gains grasses 
that are permanently satisfying.”

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS USES REPRINT
W. J. Garmhausen, Chief Landscape Architect for the Ohio Department of Highways, 
has requested 150 copies of "Lawn Zip And Zoom” for distribution. We are pleased 
to have this leaflet made available in such influential places.

BLUEGRASS AND BENTGRASS FOR FLORIDA?
This word comes from Chan Baker, Florida, a strong advocate of mixed lawn seed­
ings in that part of the country: ”I'm not too convinced that Highland bentgrass 
and Kentucky bluegrass may not have some merit for year-around use in certain

locations. - - One of my old dealers in St. Petersburg sowed Highland as a winter- 
grass several years ago. - - There are many large mature oaks to provide high 
modest shade. - - By fall seeding for several years with Highland bent he has what 
one might consider a bent lawn in St. Petersburg. The possibilities have equal 
potential with Meyer zoysia in the cooler regions, and should be equally as 
lucrative."

OHIO ADVISORY
One of Ohio’s most powerful farm and garden organizations, the Farm Bureau Cooper­
ative (marketing under the Landmark label) has issued a lawn and garden guide for 
the state of Ohio. Dr. Schery had opportunity to discuss gardening matters with 
Sales Manager Ruffing at a recent Columbus meeting. Recommendations for seed 
choice in the guide lack reference to the "fine-textured," "coarse kinds" concept, 
but are nonetheless indicative of quality types. Viz.: "Perhaps the most im­
portant step in making a new lawn is the choice of seed. A good lawn mixture 
contains Kentucky bluegrass with sufficient (fine fescue) for shaded areas - - 
it is easy to see the advantage in using blends or mixtures rather than a single 
grass." There is mention of nursegrass, but not insistence upon it.

PRESS KIT MISSED

That the Institute press kits are appreciated, is evidenced by the following 
note from the Garden Editor of the Pontiac, Michigan Press: "In the past we have 
welcomed your collection of helpful hints on developing and maintaining a healthy 
lawn. However, this year we did not receive your customary kit and we are curious 
if ours got lost in the mail - -." The mailing list showed that a kit should have 
been sent from Kansas City, though to another name at the same newspaper. A 
second kit was hastily directed to Jody Headlee. It is good to know that the kit 
is well enough regarded to be missed!

"NATIONAL SPRING GARDEN PLANTING WEEK"

A proclamation declaring such a "week" for October 2-8, 1966 was introduced in 
the United States Senate by Senator Warren G. Magnuson of Washington on June 16.
As noted elsewhere, the Lawn Institute has lent its name to the committee behind 
this effort. William Meacham, Executive Secretary of the "National Spring Garden 
Planting Week Committee," asked that a night letter be sent to Senator Magnuson 
expressing support. Such letters are for insertion in the congressional record, 
and will be reprinted. Other releases are arranged for from the Senator's office. 
The following statement was sent in behalf of the Institute: "Honorable Senator 
Warren C . Magnuson. The Better Lawn & Turf Institute is delighted with your 
planned proclamation of a National Spring Garden Planting Week and congratulates 
you upon this progressive measure for encouraging beautification of the nation."
We are informed that Mrs. Magnuson, an advocate of the Beautify America program, 
has accepted chairmanship of the overall committee.

DR. SCHERY TO SERVE ON GWAA AWARDS COMMITTEE
"Dear Bob: Barbara Emerson has asked me to be chairman of a new Awards Committee 
to be formed within the GWAA, and I have accepted. The first step is to get a 
committee together, and I am writing this to ask if you would serve as a member 
of it. - -" - Hamilton Mason, Chairman, Awards Committee, Better Homes & Gardens

SPRING CLIPPINGS TOTALS
Totals and trends given elsewhere in this issue of Harvests were based mostly 
upon clippings received up to time of the annual meeting, when the Director’s 
report was prepared. Since the annual meeting three additional clippings envel­
opes have been received raising the totals for the spring season to 792 clippings 
directly attributable to the Institute (about 13% more than originally indicated). 
Column inches attributable to the Institute were 4,552 (up about 25% over the 
earlier figure, and approximately one-third of the column inches reported in by 
our clipping service from all sources). These new totals make the conclusions 
given in the annual report even more impressive.

SIDURON ON SOUTHERN GRASSES
There has been a lot of interest in DuPont’s siduron (Tupersan) as a crabgrass 
preventive in northern lawns. The familiar fine turf species of the North are 
not inhibited by siduron, even when it is applied at time of seeding.
It is worthy of note that such is not the case with southern turf species. Ex­
perimentation at North Carolina State University, by Lewis and Gilbert, reported 
in April Weeds, Trees and Turf, showed that all southern species tested were 
adversely affected by siduron treatments except Meyer zoysia. It is doubtful 
that siduron will have the usefulness on lawns of bermudagrass, centipede and 
carpet that it does on those of Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and bentgrass.

REPORT ON WINTERSEEDING
Dear Bob: - - The Lawn Institute mix which we received from you last August was 
overseeded during the first part of October into several varieties of bermuda­
grass at the rate of five pounds per 1000 sq. ft. The plots were vertical mowed 
before being overseeded and were dragged after being overseeded. The plots are 
maintained as for golf greens.
This mixture has given excellent results in regard to capacity to emerge and be­
come established and to grow. Thank you for sending the seed thus allowing us to 
become better acquainted with cool-season grasses other than ryegrass.” - 
J. M. Peek, Associate Professor of Agronomy, University of Southwestern Louisiana

WIDE USE OF INSTITUTE REPRINTS
The Lloyd Mansfield Company continued its excellent employment of Lawn Institute 
literature in behalf of a member client, by distributing this spring nearly 8000

reprints. Those reprints utilized were "The Latest News About Lawns," "Fall 
Offers Ideal Growing Conditions For New Lawns," "Lawn Care - 23 Questions Most 
Often Put To Dealers," "Lawn Grasses: What Kind For Your Customer?"

IN THE PRESS
It is difficult to know how much of an inspiration the Institute press kit is, in 
stimulating independent lawn coverage across the nation. Here are a few random 
samplings from the East Coast to the mountains, of the kind of thing we like to 
see featured in the newspapers:

Connecticut papers, with headlines such as "An Easy-To-Keep Lawn Needs Seeds - -," 
advised "The two quality grasses recommended for general turf use in this area 
are varieties of Kentucky bluegrass and fine-leafed fescues." Again, "It is now 
time to sow the seed. In Connecticut, a combination of Kentucky bluegrass and 
Creeping Red fescue is recommended." In neighboring New York, the World Telegram 
& Sun suggests, "Buy good seed, containing at least 75% Kentucky bluegrass and 
red fescue. Don't waste your scratching on cheap seed." In Rhode Island, the 
Providence Journal says, "Select grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and red 
fescue better noted for development of good root systems - -," and "In our area - -  
a good turf is developed basically from mixtures of Kentucky bluegrass and Creep­
ing Red fescue." In New Jersey we note such compelling headlines as "Read Label 
In Buying Lawn Seed," and "Merion Called Best Kentucky Bluegrass."

Pennsylvania had a sprinkling of nice headlines, "Buy Good Quality Lawn Seed 
Mixtures," and "Be Careful In Picking Lawn Seed." In Ohio, Cincinnatians heard, 
"Grass usually will grow in poor soil - for example, a mixture of Kentucky blue­
grass and fescue." Other Ohio advice, "When you’re buying seed for your lawn, 
be sure to read the label. One bag of seed may be cheaper than another, but be 
certain you are buying lawn seed and not weed seed. Choose a mixture high in 
Kentucky bluegrass. Avoid mixtures containing high percentages of ryegrass, tall 
fescue or redtop," and "Choose a lawn seed mixture that is high in Kentucky blue­
grass - -." Other Ohio headlines: "Select A Good Lawn Seed For Your Lawn," and
"Seeding Your Lawn? Use Lawn, Not Just Grass Seed." In Michigan the Detroit News 
& Free Press recites, "Where the turf is thin, give it a light bolster seeding of 
a good mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue," and (as one choice) "90% 
Kentucky bluegrass plus 107, Highland bent sown at a rate of 2 lbs. per thousand 
square feet on new lawn." In Bay City, Michigan, "There are a number of different 
grasses to choose from. The main grass in this area is bluegrass, the most popular  
of which are Merion and Kentucky - - red fescue is better than bluegrass for poor, 
sandy soils and much shade - - buy the best grass seed available and omit all 
nursegrasses."

More towards prairie land, Indianans read these headlines "Buy Grass Seed By The 
Label," "Read The Label Before You Buy Grass Seed," and "Kentucky Bluegrass Slated 
As One Of The Top Lawn Seeds," most of them reflecting information released by 
Purdue. In the text were such comments as, " - - avoid tall fescue - - it is ex­
tremely coarse - - don't buy grass seed for lawns which contains timothy or or- 
chardgrass," and "Most important thing to look for is a percentage of bluegrass 
seed. Never buy a mixture containing less than 25% bluegrass," "Good mixture of 
Park, Newport, Merion and common bluegrass," and "Most Indiana lawns are pre­
dominantly bluegrass and, therefore, should be cut high - -." In Illinois the 
headlines ran to, "To Cover Bare Spots Use Bluegrass Seed," while in Wisconsin,

"Analysis On Package Of Grass Seed Is True Test Of Nature’s Quality.” In Madison, 
Wisconsin, an article states, ”- - Kentucky bluegrass is the basic grass for most 
Wisconsin lawns - - the red fescues are better adapted to shady dry areas than 
bluegrass. Bluegrass and red fescues are often planted together as a mixture. 
Merion bluegrass forms a thicker turf --, "
and Kenosha, under the banner "Good 
Turf Seed” reads "For most homeowners a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and red 
fescue may be best - - form a thick attractive turf with a minimum of care.”
Minnesota likes its creation, Park, "Seed mixtures for sunny lawns should contain 
from 60 to 80% Kentucky bluegrass. The other percentages are often made up of 
the fescue grasses. Park variety of bluegrass will germinate quickly and give 
a quick turf cover --.  "
experts suggest that the mixture contain a high percentage of Kentucky bluegrass.” 
In Omaha, Nebraska, the World Herald states, ”A mixture of red fexcue and Kentucky 
bluegrass seems to be best for our climate. There should be a high percentage of 
both grasses in any seed mixture purchased --.  "
In Colorado, "But out of this
experimentation comes good news. New selections or introductions are checked 
against our old, reliable pure Kentucky bluegrass, which when the clouds clear 
away, stands in all its glory, still best of the lot.”; also, "There are several 
varieties of bluegrass. The one which seems to be doing very well now is - - 
Merion - - watch out for so-called seed bargains which contain only a small per­
centage of bluegrass.”

In North Dakota, the Bismarck Tribune says "-- but

ARONSON HELPS AGAIN
Earl Aronson, friend of the Lawn Institute, has again been very helpful with 
spring publicity, citing the Lawn Institute in his syndicated story picked up in 
clippings from all over the country. Aronson mentions: ’’With the coming of 
spring, we made our seasonal contact with Dr. Robert W. Schery, Director of the 
Lawn Institute, - - Schery said samples from 2000 lots of grass seed checked for 
weed contamination uncovered not a single crabgrass seed - - check the contents 
of the package. Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and bentgrass mean quality.
The inexpensive grass mixtures generally contain much grasses not permanent or 
so coarse as though you were planting weeds - - remember you get about 20,000 
grass seeds for a penny.” We are grateful to Mr. Aronson for contributing hun­
dreds of column-inches to our spring press kit tally.

INSTITUTE STORIES PLACED
We are pleased that the Turf Bulletin, of the Massachusetts Turf and Lawn Grass 
Council, in the spring 1966 issue carried both a custom Institute story "Good 
Seed Makes Good Sod” (reprints of which are being made and distributed), and a 
reprinting of "Seed Selection” taken from the October-November 1965 issue of Golf- 
dom. This affords excellent coverage of Institute informational releases in 
technical turf circles of the Northeast.

GRASSES FOR HYDRO-MULCHING 
Bowie Machine Works, manufacturer of Hydro-mulchers (for spraying a slurry of 
ingredients for vegetating roadsides and other prepared soil areas), had its 
booklet included in an extensive mailing by Conwed products, a Wood Conversion

Company in Minnesota manufacturing a hardwood fiber cellulose mulch. Through 
the years Bowie had asked the Institute for information and literature. We note 
that the grass zone map designed by the Institute was utilized for both souther?, 
and northern grasses. About Kentucky bluegrass, the Bowie booklet says: "Ken­
tucky bluegrass is to the North what common bermudagrass is to the South. A good 
all-purpose turfgrass of medium texture for open sun and medium shade areas. It 
establishes from seed as do several new strains such as Park, Merion, Arboretum, 
Newport, and others.” Of Creeping Red fescue, ” - - a very fine-textured grass 
well adapted to heavy shade and dry infertile soil areas. Established from seed, 
it does best in a mixture with Kentucky bluegrass - -.” Bentgrasses receive this 
accolade, ” - - the ultimate in quality turf but require greater care than the 
average homeowner can afford. These grasses are used primarily for golf greens 
and ultra-fine lawns. There are numerous strains, several of which can be 
established from seed.”

REPORTED IN WEEDS, TREES AND TURF
In covering the Wisconsin Turfgrass Conference, Weeds, Trees & Turf reporters 
had this impression of Lawn Institute participation: ”In an extensive discussion 
on turf species comparisons at the conference, Lawn Institute speaker Dr. Schery 
narrowed the field of suitable grass species for Wisconsin to Kentucky bluegrasses, 
fine fescues, and the bentgrasses.
’A very satisfactory all-purpose blend for Wisconsin might combine two or three 
bluegrasses with a modicum of fine fescues, depending on the amount of shade and 
soil quality,’ Schery advises. He stressed that Merion Kentucky bluegrass is 
still considered the best bluegrass commercially available for well-maintained 
lawns.”

RESORT STORY
Advantage was taken of the summer season by a weed control story in the May Report 
Management, "Lawn Weeds - - - Don’t Let Them Rob You.” Good quality grasses were 
emphasized, as exemplified in the lead paragraph "Your fine-textured Kentucky 
bluegrasses, Oregon fine fescues and bentgrasses are no more dressy than would 
be pasture grasses, if the lawn is studded with coarse and contrasting vegetation 
at a season when the landscape should be at its best.”

OSU SENDS INFORMATION
There’s often need for sound background information on programs under way to 
improve and prepare better quality seed in Oregon. While doing a story for Crops 
and Soils, Dr. Schery wrote Ritchie Cowan, of Oregon State University, requesting 
background information that would be helpful in establishing the ’’good name” of 
Oregon-grown seed. Several members of the Agronomy staff responded, but we are 
particularly grateful to William O. Lee for a fine summarization backed up with 
several reprints and instructional sheets. This sort of cooperation is particu­
larly helpful in providing information on measures being undertaken by Oregon 
growers that reflect in better quality of seed sold in the East. The Lawn 
Institute can speak more confidently, and project a more progressive image in 
behalf of Oregon seed, knowing that these practices are not only possible but are

being acted upon in the growing areas, It does appear that herbicidal techniques 
now make it possible to produce essentially weed and crop-free seed of quality 
turfgrass varieties.

LAWN SEED USAGE POLLED
Most members will probably have heard of the 1965 poll taken by the Minneapolis 
Star & Tribune newspapers in the metropolitan area. Results are reported in the 
May Home & Garden Supply Merchandiser. Use of lawn seed has persisted in the 
middle 40% range (of residents polled) for the last three years. Northrup, King 
and Scott brands shared leadership. A slighton higher number of residents bought 
lawn fertilizers. A comparison of weed control products is also given.

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS STUDY
John E. Fisher, Plant Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, reports in the Fall 
1965 issue of "Greenhouse Garden Gr ass," on anatomical studies in the growth 
of Kentucky bluegrass rhizomes. Excellent close-up photos show bud primorida 
highly magnified, and molded models demonstrate position of buds and governing 
structures. For details on anatomy and early morphology of rhizome and tiller 
buds, it is suggested that the publication be consulted. But the following point 
will be of popular interest: In a single growing season, one plantlet (in good 
soil without competing vegetation) produced 818 feet of rhizomes, and 1305 
daughter plants. What a bounty from a single seed!

CRABGRASS CONTROL IN BLUEGRASS
Iowa researchers (Roberts, Markland and Pellett) report in the April issue of 
Weeds, on controlling crabgrass in bluegrass with pre-emergent herbicides. There 
was no great difference between differing herbicides. But the studies pointed 
out that moisture, and bluegrass competition (as stimulated by fertilizer) had 
important influence on effectiveness of crabgrass control. Under wet conditions, 
crabgrass is favored, as it is when bluegrass is thin. In fact flourishing 
bluegrass did more to restrain crabgrass than did herbicide alone. A practical 
conclusion is that miracles cannot be expected from pre-emergence crabgrass 
treatment, and that this must be accompanied by management that favors the blue­
grass in order to be truly effective.

WINTERGRASS REPORT FROM FLORIDA
Dr. Burt says, in the Proceedings of the 1965 Turfgrass Management Conference,
"A mixture of Pennlawn fescue, Chewings fescue and Seaside bentgrass at respective 
rates of 12, 12 and 5 lbs. per M was the most desirable of 17 overseeding combina­
tions - - A mixture of Chewings fescue and Penncross bentgrass was rated second 
in overall performance."

LAWN TEACHING MANUAL
"Establishing And Caring For Lawns And Turf” is Module No. 9, in the Horticulture- 
Service Occupations issued through The Center for Research and Leadership Develop­
ment in Vocational and Technical Education, Ohio State University. This module 
appeared in August 1965, after review and suggestions by Dr. Schery of the Lawn 
Institute.
A basic outline and instructions are given to teachers, with the instructional 
material broken down into three parts:

I.  To establish a new lawn
II.  To maintain a lawn properly
III.  To repair or renovate poor lawns.

The information is epitomized, and suggestions or instructions to the teacher out­
lined before and after each section. Apparently there has been heavy demand for 
the module in vocational teaching courses. Among the references it cites are 
both "The Lawn Book” and "The Householder’s Guide To Outdoor Beauty,” authored 
by Dr. Schery as part of the Institute program. The module is designed for 15 
hours of class instruction, 30 hours of laboratory experience, and 55 hours of 
occupational experience - a total of 100 hours instructional time to be devoted.

KIT USER REPORTS

We were pleased to have an envelope from the Rochester, New York Democrat and 
Chronicle, enclosing page 8B of the April 23 issue which carried a story featured 
as "Studies Show Seed Free Of Noxious Lawn Weeds.” The Lawn Institute was men­
tioned by name in the text. Sample statement: ’’Studies by the Lawn Institute - 
find at least half contain no weeds at all and most of the remainder relatively 
few weeds, generally of the type that are not a pest in lawns.”

IMPROVED EARLY GROWTH FROM RADIATION
Upon word from Mr. Stamm of American Excelsior, that they were able to obtain im­
proved germination and early growth of seed subjected to a patented form of radia­
tion, we obtained test samples of seed from Seed Technology and sent them to Oak 
Ridge, Tennessee for the suggested radiation treatment. Upon return of the sam­
ples after treatment, they were compared in the germinator with check samples of 
the same lot.

No appreciable difference was noted in total germination, but it was evident that 
the radiated seeds on the average germinated a little more quickly and exhibited 
slightly greater early vigor (as measured by length of shoot, and length of root). 
Random sampling with the following grasses showed tall fescue and a Chewings fes­
cue consistently responsive to the treatment, with sheath length sometimes as much 
as 30% greater in the treated sample than the check after about ten days. Random 
sampling with Kentucky bluegrass showed an average slight improvement in shoot 
length, but with a slight reduction in root length. Timothy, on the other hand, 
showed improved rooting but with a very slight disadvantage in shoot length. 
Statistically these counts are not significant, since insufficient samples were 
examined. But it is apparent from glancing at the tests that the radiation

treatment in general does enhance seedling growth to some extent. Whether this is 
sufficient practically to justify treatments for outdoor planting, seems question­
able; it appears that only a day or two is gained in early growth.

UREA-FORMALDEHYDE NITROGEN LESS EFFICIENT

Wisconsin studies reported in the March-April 1966 Agronomy Journal, comparing UF 
nitrogen with soluble (ammonium nitrate), supported the general impression of 
reduced efficiency (in terms of nitrogen recovery) of the UF. Kentucky bluegrass, 
test species in this research, recovered 43%, of the nitrogen applied as ammonium 
nitrate (at 150 lbs. N/A.), but only 19%, supplied as UF. The testing indicates 
that inefficiency of the UF is not because of volatilization at the soil surface 
(only 0.3%, of the N from UF was lost in that fashion, compared to 7%, with urea), 
but primarily because of relatively low availability of UF N.

NATIONAL SPRING GARDEN PLANTING WEEK
A resolution mentioned elsewhere, now duly introduced in both houses of Congress., 
declared the first full week of October as "National Spring Garden Planting Week." 
Now the committee asks that: "the popular letter campaigns to local Senators and 
Congressmen be initiated immediately. - - write legislators asking them to support 
the joint resolution as introduced by Senator Magnuson and Representative Hicks 
proclaiming the first full week each October as National Spring Garden Planting 
Week. - - - The publicity committee has already started distributing releases to 
daily newspapers and wire services about the resolution and its introduction to 
Congress. A second release will go out to the press this coming week asking 
for public support of the resolution. - -"

PRESS KIT SAMPLING, STATE-BY-STATE
So voluminous is clipping service pickup of Institute items appearing in news­
papers around the country, that we can’t hope to convey to members an idea of 
full coverage. But noteworthy headlines and sample statements from prominent 
papers may afford a glimpse of the demand for and use made of the type of in­
formation our Institute releases seasonally in its press kits.
NEW YORK - The headline in the Syracuse Post-Standard, April 15, reads "Seedings 
Assured." The text re-assured, "But even with the more drought-resistant Ken­
tucky bluegrass (including Park, Merion) and the fine fescues (Chewings, Illahee, 
Pennlawn) you have - -"; the Lawn Institute was named. The Lockport Union Sun & 
Journal used this headline, "A New Look At Lawn Seed," and began "Where does that 
named fine fescue, that weed-free Highland bentgrass, that adaptable Kentucky 
bluegrass come from? - - - probably the best and cleanest lawn seed in the world 
comes from specialized growing of Kentucky bluegrasses, Oregon fine fescues and 
bentgrasses such as Highland right here at home." The paper also gave the Insti­
tute by-line credit on other stories. The Niagara Falls Gazette headlined, "Buy 
Good Quality Grass Seed," and advised "Check the contents of the package. The 
Kentucky bluegrasses, fine fescue and bentgrass mean quality." The same story 
was headlined in the Buffalo, New York News as "Buy The Best In Grass Seed."
In the Mamaroneck Times the Institute was mentioned by name, and headlines in­
cluded "Park Bluegrass," "Bluegrasses." The New Rochelle Standard Star advised,

also in a major headline, "Highland

"Bluegrasses such as Park and Merion, and the fine fescues such as Chewings,
Illahee and Pennlawn, distribute easily --.  "
Bentgrass Is Used, Easily Cared For, On Lawns." That same headline appeared in 
the Mt. Vernon Argus, and the Peekskill Star. Other Peekskill Star headlines were, 
"Bluegrasses, Fescues," "Lawns Improve Soil," "Fine Fescues Best Shade Grass."
Port Chester witnessed "Bluegrasses," "Seal Of Approval," "Fescue Features," 
"Fescues First In Oregon," "Fine Fescues," "Lawn Seed Size," "Park Bluegrass,"
"That Fescue Name," and "Choice Of Turfgrasses" ("Whether you plant Kentucky blue­
grass-fine fescue or the lower-growing Highland bentgrass, depends - -."). The 
Yonkers Herald Statesman carried "Fescue Features," "Seal Of Approval"; and the 
White Plains Reporter Dispatch "That Fescue Name," "Bluegrasses, Fescues," "Fine 
Fescues," "Crabgrass Not In Seed," "Bluegrasses," "Lawns Improve Soil," "Park 
Bluegrass," "Fescues First In Oregon," ("The state of Oregon is by far the nation's 
leading source of fine fescues, much sought-after components of the better lawn 
seed blends."), "Fine Fescues Best Shade Grass," "Fescue Features," "Highland Bent­
grass Is Used, Easily Cared For, On Lawns," "Picking Lawn Seed" ("A labeling sys­
tem has been agreed upon for lawn seed, whereby the grasses are grouped either as 
'fine-textured,' or ’coarse kinds,’ - -"). In the Tarrytown News, under "Fescue 
Features," ("Look for such fine fescues as Chewings, Illahee, Pennlawn and Rainier, 
on the seed box label. These varieties are able companions for Kentucky blue­
grass."). And under "That Fescue Name," " - - it’s one easily remembered. You 
remember it for an attractive, durable sward if you planted the Creeping Red types 
such as Chewings, Illahee and Pennlawn." Another headline, "Drought Seldom Kills 
Well-Established Grasses," ("Bluegrass revives from underground parts - - Park 
and Merion are varieties of Kentucky bluegrass - - mature fescue turfs are 
especially tenacious in dry shade, - - you will find among the fine fescues such 
varieties as Chewings, Illahee, Pennlawn, Rainier and Creeping Red."). Under 
"Bluegrasses," ("Any Kentucky bluegrass can make an A-1 turf, and all are worth­
while in seed blends. The Park variety is often included because of fast 
sprouting - -.") As to "Lawn Seed Size," (" - - notes the Lawn Institute.
Highland bentgrass seeds are very tiny - - Kentucky bluegrass seeds are
voluminous, too - - fine fescues are longer and narrower - -."). Under "Fewer 
Weeds," ("There are far fewer weeds when a fine fescue-Kentucky bluegrass lawn is 
mowed 2 inches tall, than when only 1 inch, notes the Lawn Institute. Highland 
bent is best mowed less than an inch - -."). As to "Park Bluegrass," ("Park is 
an unusual variety of Kentucky bluegrass, in that it is a combination of the most 
vigorous strains - -,") and for "Certified Lawngrass," ("Pennlawn is one of the 
certified fine fescues grown in Oregon, and state agriculturists are building 
up new certifiable stock of such old favorites as Chewings. Oregon also certifies 
Highland bentgrass seed - - Park and Merion are typical bluegrasses commonly 
certified - -."). As to watering lawns, "The widely-used Kentucky bluegrasses 
and fine fescues need less water than do the bentgrasses, and can even endure con­
siderable periods of drought." With "Crabgrass Not In Seed," ("Investigations by 
the Lawn Institute showed that not a single crabgrass seed was found in nearly 
2000 lots of quality bluegrass and fine fescue."). The Nyack Journal News head­
lined "Highland Bentgrass Interesting," as well as "Crabgrass Not In Seed," "Fine 
Fescues Best Shade Grass," "Park Bluegrass," "Grasses Not Slouches In Sitting Out 
Drought," "Highland Grass Recommended." Among the explanatory statements, "The 
Lawn Institute suggests thinning plus overseeding with fine-textured grasses - -," 
"Kentucky bluegrass and other fine turfgrasses grow many rootlets - -," "The Lawn 
Institute says that a Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue lawn can be mowed very low 
in late winter - -," "Bluegrasses such as Park and Merion, and fine fescues such 
as Chewings, Illahee and Pennlawn, distribute easily - - the very small seeds of 
Highland bentgrass may well be diluted - -," and "(nitrogen) is needed most - - by

the bentgrasses and Merion Kentucky bluegrass, less heavily by most other Kentucky 
bluegrasses including Park, and least of all by the fine fescues such as Chewings, 
Illahee and Pennlawn.” The Ossining Citizen Register used the same general run 
of kit "shorts,” with such advice as ”A bluegrass or fescue has to be durable to 
take this kind of treatment!”, "Fine fescues such as Chewings, Illahee and Penn- 
lawn are widely recognized for their ability to persist in the shade, and on poor, 
droughty soils.” Under the heading "Fescues First In Oregon,” ("The state of 
Oregon is by far the nation’s leading source of fine fescues, much sought-after 
components of the better lawn seed blends.”). In all of the items relating to 
lawn mowing, watering and so on it was possible to mention fine turfgrasses by 
name. Under "Choice Of Turfgrass,” ("Whether you plant Kentucky bluegrass-fine 
fescue or the lower-growing Highland bentgrass, depends more upon the care to be 
given and your preference than upon inherent characteristics of the grasses. The 
Lawn Institute suggests bentgrass or the Merion variety -- for the more lavishly 
tended lawn.”).

OHIO - Some Ohio newspaper headlines were: "Buy Lawn Seed, Not Weed Seed,” "Check 
Grass Seed Carefully Before You Buy,” "Crabgrass In Soil, Not In Lawn Seeds,” 
"Thick Turf Of Perennial Grasses Halts Crabgrass,” "Planting A Poor Lawn Seed Will 
Not Give Results,” ’’Spring Lawn Seeding Aided By New Products,” "Good Lawn Seed 
Can Be Sown On Frozen Ground,” "Buy Good Lawn Seed,” ’’Park Bluegrass,” "Fescue 
Features,” "Bentgrass Good For Family Needs,” "Picking Lawn Seed,” and "Merion 
Suggested For Lavish Lawns.” Text comments were much as cited for New York, viz. 
"But even with more drought-resistant Kentucky bluegrasses (including Park, Merion) 
and the fine fescues (Chewings, Illahee, Pennlawn), you have control of one more 
environmental factor - "Among the attractive, fine-textured grasses enduring 
of drought, are the fine fescues. Think of fine fescue blends where water re­
strictions prevail.” There is no new variety of Creeping Red fescue sweeping the 
market, but favorites such as Chewings, Illahee and Pennlawn are in steady supply 
and make excellent companions for Kentucky bluegrass in mixtures. Bluegrass-fes­
cue combinations --."; and ”A blend of fine-textured grasses (Kentucky) bluegrass
fine fescues, bentgrass are listed as ’fine-textured’ on the label) goes a great 
distance - -.” Several papers gave by-line credit to the Lawn Institute, such as 
the Mansfield, Ohio News Journal ("Even New Grasses Require Care For An Attractive 
Lawn”).

MASSACHUSETTS - Among the Massachusetts headlines were "Hail Highland,” "Spring 
Lawn Seeding Now Made Feasible” (with by-line credit, in the Boston Traveler), 
"Fine Fescues,” "Good Grass Worth Price,” "Proven Lawngrasses Doing Well,” "New 
Products Make Spring Seeding Safer,” "Famed Kentucky Bluegrass Didn’t Originate 
There.” Among the text quotes were such statements as: “Reels are suggested for 
close-clipped lawns such as those of Highland bentgrass. Rotaries do well for 
taller-mowed grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue,” "Among the fine- 
textured grasses, the fine fescues stand out for adaptability to dry, poor-soil 
conditions - - you will find among the fine fescues such varieties as Chewings, 
Illahee, Pennlawn, Rainier and Creeping Red. Nor are the Kentucky bluegrasses 
slouches,” and ”In warm weather Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue plantings mulched 
with clean straw begin sprouting within one week, --."

NEW JERSEY - Headline examples: "Bluegrasses For The Lawn,” “Kentucky Bluegrass,” 
“Fine Fescues,” “What Grasses Are Best For Lawn,” “Read Label When You Buy Lawn 
Seed - "Choice Of Turfgrass,” “Park Bluegrass,” “Seal Of Approval,” “Good 
Lawn Seed Is Essential,” “Fescue Features,” “Renovation Of Lawn Depends On Quali­
ty,” and "Beware Kentucky-31.” Text discussions of these pickups follow the press

kit language, viz. "You’ll remember it for an attractive, durable sward if you 
planted the Creeping Red type such as Chewings, Illahee and Pennlawn. You’ll 
remember it as a pest if you mistook a coarse cousin, the tall fescues, for a fine 
fescue.", "- -better to adjust mowing height sufficiently high for Kentucky blue­
grass-fine fescue, the top lawn combination.", and " - - says the Lawn Institute. 
Even a very thin stand of quality grasses, such as the Kentucky bluegrasses and 
fine fescues can be bolstered - -."

MARYLAND - Example headlines: "Buy Good Lawn Seed" (Baltimore Morning Sun; paper 
also used numerous other items, some with by-line, such as "Moisture For Good 
Lawns"), "Fewer Weeds," "Lawn Seeders," and "Lawn Seed Has No Crabgrass." Sample 
text:  "Good lawn seed is good for many reasons. First of all, it has the right
kinds of grasses in it - species such as Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescues, or 
bentgrass," "Fortunately, the recognized fine-textured lawngrasses get along with 
only modest moisture. It is not necessary to turn to exotic or ill-looking 
and "Among the excellent qualities that make Oregon fine fescues so
species - 
much in demand for lawn seed blends are ability to endure shade, drought and infer­
tile soils."

NEW ENGLAND AREA: Maine was told "Good Seedbed Important In Seeding Lawn," and 
"Yard Without Lawn Lacks Something" (this with by-line, the text stating "A sweep 
of deep green and aristocratic bluegrass is a thing of beauty - - good turf must 
be adapted to the climate and to the attention it can be given. Kentucky blue­
grass combined with the fine fescues usually yield the best all-around turf with 
minimum attention. Park bluegrass can be included for fast sprouting. Highland 
bentgrass is excellent for moist or watered areas."). In New Hampshire there were 
such headlines as "Kentucky Bluegrass," in Rhode Island "Poor Lawn Seed Termed 
Waste Of Time, Money," and "No Crabgrass." Connecticut had the Aronson story 
headlined several times, under such titles as "Some Perennial Grasses Natural 
Crabgrass Foe," in which Dr. Schery and the Institute are mentioned as advocating 
"A thick turf of perennial grasses; a dense Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue lawn 
mowed tall, or a thick sward of Highland bent to resist invasion by weeds."

MIDDLE ATLANTIC - From the Wilmington, Delaware Journal, "Crabgrass Uses Soil As 
Hideout," and "Buhing Grass Seed? Be Foxy." Text for the latter states, "Buy 
where you can get sound advice. Check the contents of the package. Kentucky blue­
grass, fine fescue and bentgrass mean quality." "Power Thatch Remover" was popular 
both in Delaware and North Carolina ("power thatch removers with flexible tines do 
well in ridding Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue lawns of organic debris - - 
slicing or cutting machines are suggested for lawn bentgrasses, such as Highland,
- -." In Virginia, headlines were "Buying Grass Seed? Be Quality-Conscious," 
"Bluegrasses For Lawns," "Patented Bluegrass" and "Sowing Crabgrass." Explanations 
included "Kentucky bluegrass and other fine turfgrasses grow many rootlets in the 
top few inches - -," "It is re-assuring that seed experts checking millions of 
samples never find crabgrass in Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and bentgrass," 
and "The Lawn Institute suggests thinning plus overseeding with fine-textured 
grasses as a means for stimulating old lawns."
NORTH CENTRAL STATES - The Scranton, Pennsylvania Tribune exhorts "Buy Good Lawn 
Seed" ("It’s a waste of time to plant poor lawn seed; you'll not get a worthwhile 
lawn nor your money’s worth from it, says Dr. Robert W. Schery, Director of the 
Lawn Institute."); also "That Fescue Name." Pittsburgh, in the Press, was urged 
to "Mow Bluegrass High To Keep Down Weeds," "Crabgrass Not In Seed," "Lawn Sod 
Thinning, Reseeding Pushed," "Grasses Help Improve Soil" and "Lawn Seed Certified

By Type." It mentions that " - - says the Lawn Institute - - Kentucky bluegrasses 
and fine fescues are not injured, but susceptible weeds wither away." Other 
Pennsylvania headlines: "Pennlawn Tops Among Fescues," "Early, Close Clipping 
Benefits Bluegrass," "Sow Good Seed On Frozen Soil," "Buy Best Seeds For Best 
Lawn," and "Spring Lawn 'Do's,’" by Dr. Robert W. Schery, Director of The Lawn 
Institute." In Grand Rapids, Michigan, under the headline "Lawn Science Is Still 
Quite New," Dr. Schery and the Lawn Institute are cited on a number of points. 
Pontiac saw the headline "Fescues Endure Drought, Infertility," and "Good lawn- 
grasses thrive under wide variations of soil acidity or alkalinity, says the Lawn 
Institute." Jackson had the headline "Highland Bent," while Lansing is informed 
"Crabgrass Needs Hot Weather, Points Out The Lawn Institute. If Kentucky blue­
grass and fine fescues are urged to thick, full growth - -." Traverse City gave 
the Institute a by-line, under the heading "Spring Lawn Seeding," and again in a 
different issue under the heading "More Potent Lawn Fertilizers." Another ex­
cellent by-line, in the Jackson Citizen Patriot, exhorted "Don't Blame The Seed 
Salesman, Grassy Headaches In The Soil." Other headlines were "Kentucky Blue­
grass," "Thatch Removal Not Damaging To Bluegrass Turf," "Lawngrass In The Shade," 
"Sow Early; Beat Weeds," "Underground Watering Aids The Lawn," and "The Better 
The Seedbed, The Better The Rooting." Indiana, too, favored the Institute with 
several by-lines. Headlines included "Bentgrass Care," "Winter Lawn Damage," 
"Kentucky Bluegrass Best For Lawns" ("No lawngrass is more versatile and more 
widely used than is Kentucky bluegrass. It is the mainstay of better lawn seed 
mixtures, usually backed by Oregon fine fescues such as Chewings and Pennlawn."), 
"Poor Lawn Seed Is A Waste Of Time" (South Bend, Tribune, amplified "Good lawn 
seed is good for many reasons. First of all, it has the right kind of grasses 
in it - species such as Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue, or bentgrass."), "Merion 
Still Favorite," "Park Bluegrass." The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette carried the 
"Two Basic Seeders For Lawn Work" story, mentioning "Bluegrasses such as Park 
and Merion, and fine fescues such as Chewings, Illahee and Pennlawn, distribute 
easily with both types of spreaders. But the very small seeds of Highland bent- 
grass may well be diluted - -."
MIDWEST - Danville, Illinois carried numerous Institute stories in the Commercial 
News, viz. "Give Lawn Good Start In Spring," "That Name - Fescue," "Seed Size"
(" - - notes the Lawn Institute. Highland bentgrass seeds are very tiny - - 
Kentucky bluegrass seeds are voluminous, too - - fine fescues are longer and 
narrower."), "Picking Seeds," "Lawn Seed Varieties Increase," "Fescues Familiar 
In Nation," "Kentucky Bluegrass Popular," "Essentials For Bettering Your Lawn," 
"New Homes Require Attention To Grounds." The Aurora Beacon News headlined 
"Fine Fescues, New Idea For Less-Tended Lawns," and the Rock Island Argus "Fine 
Fescues Provide Top-Quality Turf." The Rockford Star emphasized that Kentucky 
bluegrass is green in winter. The Quincy Herald-Wig, with Institute by-line, 
announced "Waste Of Time To Plant Poor Seed On Lawn." The DeKalb Chronicle 
announced "Kentucky Bluegrass," and other papers such headlines as "Best Of Lawn 
Seed Merits Good Seedbed," "Lawn Tending Needed With Best Grasses" and "Spring 
Lawn Seeding Tips Are Offered" (all of the latter with credit to the Institute). 
Iowa heard "New Products Aid Spring Seeding For Home Lawn," "Thick Turf Controls 
Crabgrass," and "Park Bluegrass." The Minneapolis, Minnesota Tribune heralded 
"Grass Seed Quality Varies," advising "Check the contents of the package. Ken­
tucky bluegrass, fine fescue and bentgrass mean quality." In Wisconsin, readers 
are told "The most popular high-class lawngrass for the North, the Kentucky blue­
grasses, fine fescues and Highland bentgrass, are not harmed by freezing weather." 
Headlines included "Kentucky Bluegrass" (several times), "Get Lawn Program Under 
Way Early" ("The earlier you get your lawn program under way the better, advises

the Lawn Institute. Top lawngrasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescues 
pick up steam with the first breath of spring."). The Janesville Gazette custom­
arily gives the Institute by-line, no exception this year: under "No Miracle 
Grass; All Must Be Mowed," the grasses are named and mowing height given. The 
LaCrosse Tribune cited Institute information on "Lawn Seed And Lawns Are Improved," 
and on another occasion "Cheap Grass Seed May Cause Trouble." Racine was advised 
"Spring Lawn Seeding Can Be Successful," while Appleton heard "Good Lawn Seed Won’t 
Grow On Poor Seedbed" ("In warm weather Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue plantings 
mulched with clean straw begin sprouting within one week.").

PRAIRIE STATES - In Kansas the Salina Journal gave the Institute a by-line, in the 
story "New Products Help Make Spring Seeding Feasible" ("Kentucky bluegrass, fine 
fescue, bentgrass are listed as ’fine-textured' on the label."). The Omaha World 
Herald was the chief user of Institute materials in Nebraska, under such headlines 
as "Care Determines Choice Of Grass" ("The Lawn Institute says bentgrass or Merion 
variety of Kentucky bluegrass is probably best for the more lavishly tended lawns 
mowed low. Other Kentucky bluegrasses and the fine fescues are best for lawns 
receiving only moderate attention - -."). The Dakotas heard much about thatch 
removal and underground watering. Colorado, especially Colorado Springs noted that 
the Lawn Institute advised on "New Mowing Concept," "Remake Or Bolster?" "Choice Of 
Turfgrass," "Seal Of Approval," "Picking Lawn Seed," "New Control," "Liming Lawns," 
"Lawns Improve Soil," "Lawn Seed Size," and "Tall Bluegrass" ("There are far fewer 
weeds when a fine fescue-Kentucky bluegrass lawn is mowed 2 inches tall, than when 
only 1 inch, notes the Lawn Institute. Highland bent is best mowed less than 1 
inch tall, however, - -."). Limon was advised "Watch Those Lawn Seed Bargains," as 
was Hugo in its Plainsman.

THE WEST AND SOUTH - The Institute had a by-line in the Modesto, California Bee, 
under the headline "Fertilizers For Grasses Are More Potent" ("Proven lawngrasses 
such as the fine fescues and Kentucky bluegrass seldom suffer from minor nutrient 
deficiencies - -."). Other headlines in the state had to do with power thatch 
removers, sprinklers, automatic irrigation, and "Three Spring Essentials For 
Bettering The Lawn" ("Be sure the mainstay bluegrasses and fine fescues are pres­
ent. Highland bent can be overseeded to bentgrass lawns."), and "Thick Turf Is 
Best Defense Against Crabgrass Problem" ("A dense Kentucky bluegrass-fine fescue 
lawn mowed tall, or a thick sward of Highland bent, resists invasion."). Fresno 
heard about "Domestic Fine Fescues" ("The Lawn Institute points out that quality 
seed mixtures containing fine fescues, are probably utilizing domestic seed if the 
varieties bear such names as Chewings, Illahee and Pennlawn."). New Mexico heard 
the "Institute story" chiefly through the Aronson Newsfeature, in such papers as 
the Albuquerque Journal and Las Cruces Sun News. The same story was headlined 
in the Everett, Washington Herald as "Lawn Director Answers Questions About Grass." 
The Spokane, Washington Spokesman Review gave the Institute a by-line, in "Lawn 
Low-Down." The Coeur d'Alene, Idaho County Leader carried the "Kentucky Bluegracs" 
short. In Oklahoma interest centered on bluegrass ("Now You Know," "Bluegrass No 
Native"). The Portland, Oregon Oregonian used the mulch story, which mentions,
"You buy blends of the top variety - Chewings and Pennlawn fescue, Park and Merion 
bluegrass, Highland bentgrass; certainly this good seed, sowed into a seedbed 
prepared with no little labor, deserves a mulch - -." The same paper, utilizing 
the fertilizer story, cites "Proven lawngrasses such as the fine fescues and Ken­
tucky bluegrasses seldom suffer from minor nutrient deficiencies."

Extremes in coverage are the Winter Haven, Florida News Chief, and the Anchorage, 
Alaska Daily Times. In between many states heard Institute advice through the 
Associated Press Newsfeature story, viz. the Wheeling and Bluefield, West Virginia 
papers.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE INSTITUTE AND ITS RELEASES
"Dear Bob: From everything we see and hear you are doing a wonderful job as usual 
If you can make the time I would like to add some more little glimmer to your fame 
I would like to have you write - - on what I am tentatively calling ’A Handbook 
of Lawn Grasses'." - Edwin F. Steffek, Horticulture
"Dear Dr. Schery: Many thanks for your prompt reply to our letter - - regarding 
'nimblewill' - our lawn weed problem. - - We seeded our lawns early this year, 
even before the snow was all melted, and plan to reseed again, using a mixture of 
Kentucky bluegrass and fescue." - The Cyclone Seeder Co., Inc.
"The Lawn Zip and Zoom leaflet is fine and we could use 150 of them." Best 
Wishes." - Wilbur J. Garmhausen, Chief Landscape Architect, Ohio Department of 
Highways
" - - Thanks very much for your comments and corrections - - The photographs are 
excellent. - - I appreciate the hard work that you have put into this article. 
Thanks again." - Steven A. Breth, Editor, Crops and Soils
"Dear Bob: We want to thank you for your part in the 1966 Wisconsin Turfgrass Con- 
ference. Your reprints have arrived and we will forward them to those in attend­
ance at the conference." - Robert Newman, Extension Horticulturist, University 
of Wisconsin
"Dear Dr. Schery: Another of your excellent articles on the care of lawns is 
appearing in our current issue, and I thought you might like to see this tear 
sheet from the advance samples our printer has sent us." - Henry Mitchell, Editor, 
Resort Management