BETTER LAWN

PUBLISHED PERIODICALLY BY THE NEWS BUREAU OF 

BETTER LAWN & TURF INSTITUTE-

Vol. 6, No. 3

Harvests 

SUITE 818 - 1016 BALTIMORE BUILDING 

KANSAS CITY 5, MISSOURI

December 1, 1959

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS FEATURED IN CARTOON SERIES

The Lawn Institute cartoon panel series, "Your Lawn", is released to newspapers twice 
yearly through the Derus Media Service.

The first Institute "Your 
Lawn" panel, "Crabgrass 
Cries For You, " released 
Spring, 1959, has appeared 
in 2,231 newspapers to date.

The second Institute "Your 
Lawn" panel, "375 Miles 
From One Grass Root", 
released Fall, 1959, has 
appeared in 2,197 news­
papers to date.

Both of these panels are still being run by newspapers, according to clippings received 
regularly by the Institute.

AGRONOMY JOURNAL ARTICLE ENDORSES BLUEGRASS AND FESCUE

Interesting research was reported in the October Agronomy Journal. One article 
was entitled, "Susceptibility of Merion and other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties to 
Stripe Smut, " by Kreitlow and Juska, and the other, "Evaluation of Cool-Season 
Turfgrasses Alone and in Mixtures, " by Juska and Hanson.

The former is of special interest, in showing that the Merion variety suffers 
inordinately from stripe smut disease, compared to natural Kentucky bluegrass 
and especially varieties such as Newport and Park. This tends to emphasize that 
even though a named variety seems excellent initially, unforeseen problems (in 
this case disease) may arise in time which can severely decimate a genetically 
uniform plant selection. Following are quotes from the article:

"The evident susceptibility of Merion bluegrass to strips 
smut suggests that this variety may be seriously damaged 
in areas and under conditions where the fungus occurs.
Since plants are infected systemically they remain diseased 
until they die. New tillers that arise from the parent plant 
are almost invariably smut-infected.

"The incidence of stripe smut observed in breeder and com­
mercial Merion bluegrass was much higher than in other 
varieties and selections. While most varieties average less 
than 1 smutted tiller per square foot, breeder and commercial 
Merion Kentucky bluegrass averaged 40 and 32, respectively, 
per square foot. "

In the second article an observation indicates that mixtures containing red fescue 
with bluegrass were in general more satisfactory than bluegrass planted alone. 
Observations were made on plantings established in 1953, the changes checked 
in 1958. On the rating scheme mixtures containing Merion Kentucky bluegrass 
rated somewhat better than those containing natural Kentucky bluegrass (except 
where stripe smut finally came in), but the obvious fallacy here is that the plots 
were not especially managed to give best performance of the natural Kentucky 
bluegrass. The ratings between Merion, natural Kentucky bluegrass, and mix­
tures with other quality turfgrasses were not very great, but did show up in 
general much better than when bentgrass was included. Where "cheap" seed 
mixtures were tried, low in the quality grasses, results were rather disastrous. 
Also red fescue mixed with Kentucky bluegrass gave somewhat higher five year 
ratings than bluegrass alone:

"The mixture without bluegrass or red fescue produced the 
poorest turf. Plots sown with this mixture produced a coarse, 
open turf and were heavily infested with weeds. Turf-quality 
was improved when 26% common bluegrass and 7% red fescue 
were included in a mixture containing 40% ryegrass, 20% red- 
top, and 2% clover; however, purchasing a mixture of this type

is not justified on cost alone since it takes several years 
for the ryegrass and redtop to disappear. During the time 
that ryegrass and redtop are present, the texture and compo­
sition of the turf are less desirable than those obtained from 
seeding adapted, long-lived lawn species."

DR. SCHERY TO CO-WRITE U.S.D.A. YEARBOOK SEED TRADE CHAPTER

John Schiffman, Chairman of the A.S.T.A. Committee working with the Depart­
ment of Agriculture on the Yearbook has asked Dr. Schery to share authorship 
with his chapter relating to operations of the seed trade. Content and organiza­
tion for the write-up were discussed when Mr. Schiffman visited with Dr. Schery 
in October. This will be in addition to Dr. Schery’s own chapter on the lawn seed 
industry.

NEW LONG-LASTING FERTILIZER TYPES TO BE TESTED BY INSTITUTE

Mr. Verne C. Bidlack, Jr., chemist with the Development Department of Archer 
Daniels Midland Company, Minneapolis, conferred with Dr. Schery at the Lawn 
Institute office in October. Dr, Schery’s opinion was solicited regarding some 
new ideas A.D.M. has for long-lasting fertilizers. A.D.M. is sending some of 
their treated material to Marysville for test.

PARK MAINTENANCE CARRIES TWO INSTITUTE ARTICLES

The 12th Annual Buyer’s Guide edition of Park Maintenance carried two Lawn 
Institute releases.

"Plastic Film Used to Start New Turf Areas", bylined by Dr. Schery, was based 
on a release from the Spring, 1959 Institute Press Kit. "Fall Is Time For Turf­
grass Renovation" outlined ideas for establishing a new lawn and re-seeding an 
old lawn, with Dr, Schery noted as the source.

BLUEGRASS HISTORICAL ARTICLE IN HORTICULTURE MAGAZINE

"The Story of Bluegrass -- The Immigrant That Made Good" by Dr. Schery 
appeared in the October issue of Horticulture magazine. From its Old World 
beginnings to Colonial Ameria and finally to today’s suburbanite, the feature 
covers the colorful history of the immigrant, agrarian mainstay, soil builder 
and stabilizer that is Kentucky bluegrass.

MISSOURI PRESS ASSOCIATION USES BLUEGRASS AS FAVORS

The Missouri Press Association requested 300 samples of Kentucky bluegrass 
seed as favors at their annual dinner, Also donated were two twenty pound bags 
of Natural Kentucky bluegrass seed as door prizes.

"AUTUMN AND THE LAWN" ON TV THROUGH ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA

Forty five television stations carried a five-minute TV feature, "Autumn and Your 
Lawn", prepared by Dr, Schery and released by Encyclopedia Britannica.

Utilizing appropriate cartoon art work, making up a set of 18 slides, bluegrass 
and Oregon fescue were prominently mentioned in the accompanying script.

The program director of each station was sent a follow-up one-pound bag of a 
seed mixture containing Kentucky bluegrass and Oregon fescue.

Encyclopedia Britannica has already stated that they are definitely interested in 
cooperating with the Institute further in additional presentations next year.

FEDERAL EXTENSION SERVICE TO USE INSTITUTE MATERIAL

Mr. George H. Enfield, Extension Agronomist with the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, has advised Dr. Schery that Lawn Institute literatures is appropriate 
for his extension agronomists. They will use the Institute material for reference 
and call it to the attention of others.

INFORMATION REQUEST FROM 50TH STATE

Mrs. Robert E. Kissling, 940 Lemi Place, Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii, wrote the 
Institute asking for information on what kind of lawn might be suitable in Atlanta, 
Georgia (where the Kissling’s apparently will move shortly).

SANTA FE GARDEN EDITOR INTERVIEWS DR. SCHERY

Joe M. Clark, Garden Editor for the Santa Fe New Mexican, headlined his Septem- 
ber 20th Northern New Mexico Gardening: "Visiting Lawn Specialist Favors 
Orginary Bluegrass."

Quotes from his column included:

"Outstanding authority on lawn grasses, Dr. Robert Schery, 
visited Santa Fe this weekend from Marysville, Ohio, where 
he heads a turf institute operating on a nation-wide basis."

"He (Dr, Schery) noted that Kentucky bluegrass will grow better 
in shade or part shade here than in most regions, by reason of 
the intense quality of the sunlight here ... Fescue is usually 
somewhat more shade-tolerant than bluegrass."

AGRONOMY JOURNAL CARRIES STORY ON SEED FREEZING

An item appearing in the October Agronomy Journal states the viability of seed 
was held equal to initial germination, or in most cases actually improved, if the 
seed was kept frozen, for a period of three or four years.

No bluegrass or lawn fescue was included in the trials, but tall fescue and orchard- 
grass were, which leads one to suppose the same results would pertain with blue­
grass and red fescue. Other species in the tests were legumes, and all showed 
nearly 100% of initial germination when held subfreezing for a period of 46 or 48 
months.

LAWN BUILDING TECHNICAL ADVANCES HIGHLIGHTED IN HORTICULTURE
STORY

Dr. Schery, in his "What’s New In Lawn Building, " which appeared in the Septem­
ber issue of Horticulture, points out that "Even the amateur quickly becomes 
aware that interplay between good seed, proper mowing, fertilization and top­
flight equipment not only makes a good lawn possible, but makes it fun to build 
and maintain,"

The article further states: "Natural Kentucky bluegrass, harvested of diverse 
strains from fields having endured since colonial times, or a mixture of the blue­
grass varieties and the fine-leaf Oregon fescues, are preferable to one uniform 
variety."

FUTURE INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES BLUEPRINTED IN MEETING

Wayne Beavers of Bozell & Jacobs, Inc., met with Dr. Schery at the Institute 
office in Marysville, Ohio, on October 28 to discuss the forthcoming Spring, 1960 
Press Kit, review additions to the Institute’s photo files, review recent Institute 
activities and formulate new Institute projects for the future.

GOLF COURSE MEET ADDRESSED BY DR. SCHERY

On Tuesday evening, October 27, Dr. Schery spoke before the Central Ohio Golf 
Course Superintendents Association, meeting at the Scioto Country Club in 
Columbus. The discussion included soils and appropriate grasses for planting 
on fairways, roughs and for lawns in general in the area. Seed samples of both 
bluegrass and Oregon fescue were given out, along with some of the more recent 
reprints. In attendance, in addition to golf course superintendents, were custo­
dians of public properties such as the Veterans Hospital at Chillicothe, and a 
number of members of the greens committees of golf courses represented.

BLUEGRASS AND FESCUE MENTIONED IN GOLF COURSE ARTICLE

The September-October "Golf Course Reporter" used an Institute furnished picture 
(full page) to head the "Fall Lawn Care" section.

Six sectional experts, some of them Institute Advisors, reviewed the lawn pro­
gram in autumn regionally.

Dr. John Cornman, of Cornell, says in his section on the Northeast:

"The evidence indicates that when more than 10% of redtop or

15% of ryegrass is used, these quick growing kinds become 
'robber’ plants that hinder the growth of permanent grasses.
If these limits are not exceeded by the seedsmen perhaps a 
compromise is possible. Otherwise, logic seems to be in 
favor of omitting these weightmakers, price-cutters, and 
cosmetics.

"Timothy, orchardgrass, sheep fescue, Canada bluegrass, 
meadow fescue, and the tall fescues ’Alta’ and ’Kentucky 31’ 
are sometimes useful for pastures, airports, roadsides and 
other rough areas. Persons who plant mixtures containing 
these grasses with the idea that they will turn into an attractive 
lawn are usually disgusted by their coarse, stubbly, or clumpy 
growth. Unfortunately they cost less per pound than good lawn 
grasses and find their way into many ready-made mixtures as 
’filler’ grasses."

Quoting from Dr. Nutter for the Southeast:

"Some home owners may decide that bluegrass, bentgrass or 
fescue grass will suit their situation better than ryegrass.
This would be true where the basic lawn is dense (as with the 
improved bermuda grass varieties) or heavily thatched. These 
winter grasses will persist longer in the spring, but are slower 
to germinate, more expensive and more difficult to manage than 
ryegrass." (this is, of course, with reference to autumn inter­
seeding of a "winter grass".)

For winter interseeding on the Pacific Coast, Dr. Victor Youngner recommends:

"In general the most satisfactory turf will be obtained by 
planting a simple mixture or a straight variety which will 
best meet the requirements of each specific lawn situation.
Seldom if ever will anything be gained by planting a mixture 
of more than 3 varieties. For fine lawns Kentucky bluegrass 
or a bluegrass variety such as Merion or Newport are recom­
mended. A mixture of 60% Kentucky bluegrass and 40% 
creeping red fescue, by seed weight, will produce a good 
turf in partially shaded lawn. Bluegrasses should be seeded 
at the rate of 2 to 3 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet and 
the mixture of bluegrass and red fescue at 3 to 3 1/2 pounds."

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF DR. SCHERY'S WESTERN ITINERARY

Here is a resume of Dr. Schery’s swing through several western states in 
September. Full details were not available when the October 1 issue of Harvests 
went to press.

St, Louis - In addition to the KSD-TV appearance with Clif St. James, arrange-

ments were made for usage of Institute illustration materials the week following.

Columbia - A visit with Dr. D. D. Hemphill, in charge of Horticultural Research 
on turfgrass, and Advisor to the Institute, preceded the appearance on KOMU-TV.

Kansas City - Over and above the several television appearances and the evening 
presentation at the Garden Center, there was a luncheon with Jack Tillotson, 
publisher of Flower and Garden.

Manhattan, Kansas - A review of turfgrass research with Dr. Ray Keen, of 
Horticulture, and one of the Institute Advisors.

Denver - A visit and review with Herb Bundell, County Agent, and the horticul­
tural expert for the county, judge on the best lawn contest, a meeting with the 
Colorado State Horticulture and Forestry Association Board (delivering a brief 
talk on the Institute to them). Visits to the new aboretum, and with Dr. Hildreth, 
Director. Visit with George and Sue Kelly, noted authors on the Rocky Mountain 
horticulture. Checked with George Ward on the photographic reproductions for 
Encyclopedia Britannica, being mailed to 50 television stations around the 
country for use in the E. B. sponsored educational telecast series. Visited 
with Walter Pesman, noted landscape architect for the Rocky Mountain area.

Albuquerque - Inspection of lawns, and visit with Dr. Howard Dittmer, Dean, 
University of New Mexico, Advisor for the Institute.

Santa Fe - Visit with several horticulturally inclined individuals, especially Joe 
Clark, Garden Editor for the Santa Fe New Mexican, and Director of the Park 
Commission for the State of New Mexico.

Los Alamos - Visit with Jim Ditto, consistent front-runner in the local "best 
lawn" contest, with Carl Freeman in charge of the grounds for all of Los Alamos. 
(He will use "Bluegrass Beauty" and our literature in training his crews) and in 
inspection and cursory conversation with a number of Los Alamos nurserymen 
and home owners.

Stillwater, Oklahoma - Visit with Dr. Wayne Huffine, in charge of Turfgrass 
Research (Agronomy; Chairman of Turfgrass Division this year).

Fayetteville, Arkansas - Visit with Dr. A. M. Davis, Agronomy, our Advisor 
and currently in charge of turfgrass work for the University.

And here is a brief distillation of what some of the research people are finding 
for the particular area in which they are undertaking experimentation.

Hemphill (Missouri) - Largely concerned with herbicide work, on bluegrass. 
Recognizes bluegrass as the mainstay lawngrass for Missouri, bolstered where 
appropriate by the red fescues. Drought year, so crabgrass not much of a 
problem. Of pre-emergence material tested, an experimental product of

Diamond Alkali seemed better than those on the market. Finds nothing new 
among conventional (broadleaf) weed killers, and feels that the best available 
thing at the moment is a combination of 2,4-D with Sylvex, which will clean up 
almost all non-grass weeds. The arsonates seemed the best post-emergence 
crabgrass herbicides, and in dry summers such as this, have been effective 
against knotweed and spurge, too. Has had somewhat disappointing experience 
with ureaforms, feeling not all of the nitrogen is retrieved.

Ray Keen (Kansas) - a lot of selection and breeding research, especially on 
bermudagrass, but also on Zoysia and to some extent on fescues.

Of bentgrasses currently favors Springfield, followed by Cohansey, Arlington 
and Penncross.

Keen would recommend Merion as a suitable bluegrass if it can be well tended, 
but feels Merion cannot accept summer dormancy as well as natural Kentucky, 
and would not suggest it for unirrigated sections. The unirrigated plots now nine 
years old have turned almost entirely to bermudagrass. Most of Kansas is, of 
course, bermudagrass country.

Of the Zoysias, the Meyer strain is still the fastest growing, and probably the 
most satisfactory. Some of the specialized bermuda varieties were ending up 
with disease and insect troubles this year and the African bermudas were espe­
cially hard hit. For home use where considerable attention can be lavished on 
the lawn, Keen would recommend Tifgreen as the best, followed by Sunturf.
Keen feels that Bermuda can get by on less water than any of the other turfgrasses, 
although where no irrigation is possible of course one has to turn to buffalograss 
or blue gamma.

Keen’s experience with the ureaforms, like Hemphill’s, has not been up to 
expectations.

Wayne Huffine (Oklahoma) - The emphasis at Stillwater is not as much on breed­
ing new strains as at Kansas. He had several selections, including a hardy 
centipede and St. Augustine clones are on hand, and the centipede may be 
released.

Huffine has had fairly successful control of winter weeds in bermuda grass, by 
pre-emergence means (especially Neburon and Diuron). Chlordane has worked 
as a pre-emergence control of chickweed, if used at rates as high as 80 pounds 
active per acre (60 pounds was sporadic). As in other sections of the warmer 
part of the crabgrass area, the arsonates are effective, but not as reliable as 
in more northerly areas. The arsenical pre-emergency materials gave good 
results this year although previous years they had not been as satisfactory.

Huffine has experienced an upsurge in sod webworm, and a number of grass 
diseases. He associates this in part with the more extensive care and fertiliza­
tion lawns are getting, and is beginning to wonder if we haven’t become extreme 
in these respects.

Ureaform results here, too, have been poorer than expected, which seems 
characteristic of this three-state area.

Like Keen in Kansas, he finds the Meyer strain of Zoysia the fastest filling, and 
hence to be recommended. Bluegrass would be good for seeding the northwestern 
few counties (and the panhandle of Texas), but otherwise Oklahoma is bermuda- 
grass country. Currently he would recommend Sunturf first, U-3, and Tifgreen. 
He finds the African bermudas too demanding for the average home owner (need 
sweeping and constant mowing).

A. M. Davis (Arkansas) - The turfgrass research work is only in the beginning 
stages here, an incidental project for Davis, who has other agronomic duties. 
Davis feels that Arkansas is chiefly bermudagrass country, although he realizes 
that bluegrass can be grown, especially in the shade, He feels that for good 
bluegrass survival, Arkansas soils must have liberal additions of phosphorus.

For lawns Davis is currently recommending Sunturf bermudagrass, although if 
the home owner wishes to take time for establishment he would suggest Meyer 
Zoysia. He has found one clone of St. Augustine winter hardy at Fayetteville, 
and dichondra as well (although this is too touchy for home use).

Davis has been successful in overseeding bluegrass and Oregon fescue into 
bermuda as a "winter grass", such that the area was completely green.

Davis has had disappointing results in post-emergence crabgrass control with 
DSMA, and hesitates to add arsenicals (PAX) to the soil for fear of build-up.
He feels 2,4-D compounds are satisfactory for freeing bermuda lawns of winter 
weeds.

A full-time turfgrass and ornamental man is expected to be hired in the near 
future, which may result in more complete research.

RUTGERS TURFMEN REPORT FINDINGS TO DR. SCHERY

Here is the summary of a visit by Dr. Schery to Rutgers University, Drs. 
Richard Skogley and Ralph Engel, on October 15.

For the first time, sod webworm has become serious in New Jersey this year.
It attacked especially Merion bluegrass, according to Dr. Skogley. Chlordane 
sprayings were not overly effective, and chlordane was said to have definitely 
not controlled chinch bug. New Jersey is currently recommending diazinon 
instead. Of course, chinch bug is largely on bentgrasses, seldom attacking 
bluegrass and the lawn fescues.

The experts at Rutgers confirm what was noted at Rhode Island -- that nimble- 
will is not a severe problem on the East Coast.

The Rutgers experts are ready to back-track a bit on recommendations for heavy 
fertilization. They agree that some of our summer afflictions might be directly

traceable to over-fertilization. They are currently recommending two to three 
pounds of actual nitrogen per year per thousand. In some respects the efficiency 
of the ureaforms has been disappointing, although the safety and the labor saving 
are plus factors in favor of ureaform.

In the pre-emergence crabgrass testing, for which an excellent test area was 
under observation, experimental materials from Dow and Diamond Alkali and 
chlordane did a satisfactory job, although chlordane was reported somewhat 
erratic in other field tests. It is surmised that the chlordane loses some of its 
potency if it remains a long time in the soil. Skogley and Engel are not con­
vinced that delayed effects or the use of any chemical have been fully determined 
as yet. They believe that later thinning of turf may be traceable to chemicals, 
even the phenoxy types, applied years earlier (especially on bentgrasses, more 
so than on bluegrass).

The experimental test area on red fescues is one of the more interesting in the 
nation, having been in continuous existence for seven years now. In that length 
of time all varieties have survived, and Engel feels there is little to choose 
from in differences between them. Actually, at the time of Visit, the fescue 
turfs receiving no fertilization looked just as well as those having received 
fertilization. Even at the low cut (3/4 inch) the fescue turf had survived, 
although perhaps not so well as at higher cuts.

DR. SCHERY REPORTS ON RHODE ISLAND TURF TESTS

This is a resume of the visit to the University of Rhode Island, where Dr. Jesse 
DeFrance and his students were visited on October 14. At the same time,
Dr. Schery inspected the research underway and took over Dr. DeFrance’s class 
in turfgrass management for the day.

As has proven the case in almost every section, the regional bluegrass seed 
samples supplied through the Institute, now two years old in the Rhode Island 
plantings, appeared identical. Dr. DeFrance reports this has been the case 
since seeding, so that we have this added assurance that no matter where blue­
grass seed is harvested, it will perform satisfactorily in other sections of the 
bluegrass zone.

DeFrance tends to keep the bluegrass mown more closely than would be permis­
sible over most of the country, especially in climatic locations where hot 
summers prevail. He has two mowing heights, one at 1/2 inch, and the other 
at 1 inch; superimposed upon both of these is a high fertility and a low fertility 
regimen. As might be expected, the natural Kentucky bluegrass seedings show 
up poorly in comparison to Merion at the low cut.

However, Merion at low fertility was severely blemished with dollar spot. Even 
at the higher of the two clippings there was a good deal of "gray hair" (white, 
shriveled leaf tips), due to lesions from Helminthosporium cutting across the 
leaf some distance down. The condition was more severe on the Merion than 
on the natural bluegrasses, at the time of visit. Of course in the "Kingston

seed mixture", Dr. DeFrance recommends a blending of Merion, natural 
Kentucky bluegrass, and red fescue varieties.

At the low height of cut, resulting in a thinning of the bluegrass, weeds predom­
inating through the summer have been knotweed, chickweed, clover and crab- 
grass.

The rating charts on fertility trials (on Kingston mixture turf) were rather 
interesting. Turf that remained unfertilized through the summer, seemed 
to give higher autumn ratings than turf which had received summer fertilization. 
Of course this rated lower, without fertilization, during summer. This points 
up that there is no one "best" method for handling turfgrass, but rather that each 
of several methods may have seasonal advantages. In this instance it seems 
that a bluegrass turf not forced by fertilization in summer gave a better autumn 
response than that which was forced.

Interestingly, as a result of the late autumn this year, Zoysia was still perfectly 
green on October 14.

Other odds and ends of information include the conclusion that Arlington 
Congressional bentgrasses in mixture are still the favorite putting green strains 
for the area; chlordane at as high as 160 pounds per acre did not inhibit grass 
growth; and that nimblewill is not a serious problem in the area.

INSTITUTE MEMBERS AT CHICAGO MEETING

On October 7, President Gassner, Vice President Spears, and Dr. Schery met 
with Associate Members in a preliminary session in Chicago, dedicated to iron­
ing out whether or not the Institute should establish a "seal of commendation". 
Attending were Harold Doellinger, of Scotts; Sam Backus, of Ferry-Morse;
Jack Herman and Ken Christensen, of Northrup-King; Bill Ward, of McCulloughs; 
Swede Townsend, of Whitney and Rudy-Patrick; and Bill Herron, of Seaboard.

OHIO SHORT COURSE ATTENDED BY DR. SCHERY

Dr. Schery attended the Ohio Short Course for roadside improvement in October 
as representative of the American Seed Trade Association.

The Short Course is sponsored each year by the Ohio State University and the 
State Highway Department.

Included in the kits given to each of the approximately 100 members making the 
tour were copies of the Institute’s reprints, "New Ideas in Roadside Turf, " and 
"Use the Best Grasses for Your Roadside, " plus packets of fescue seed and 
bluegrass.

Additional samples were provided for the literature table of the State Office 
Building.

As Chairman of the Roadside Seeding Committee of the A.S.T.A., Dr. Schery 
attended a luncheon for which A.S.T.A. was co-host with Allied Chemical. 
Dr. Schery spoke in behalf of roadside seeding to the assemblage during the 
luncheon, and accompanied the tour for the demonstrations on various highway 
roadsides during the afternoon (stump removal, spraying, litter gathering, 
design types, etc.).

SPENCER CHEMICAL ISSUES INSTITUTE’S POLYETHYLENE REPORT

The Summer, 1959 issue of the Spencer Chemical Company "Today’s Fertilizer 
Dealer" reviews the Institute’s recent polyethylene film tests in their "New 
Horizons for Farming with Plastics" column.

Self-watering baby grass with polyethylene film underscores the article’s theme 
of how easy it is to grow grass with polyethylene film.

STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS HEAR DR. SCHERY

In response to an invitation from John Butter, Chief Engineer of the State High­
way Commission of Iowa and Chairman of the Roadside Development Committee 
of the American Association of State Highway Officials, Dr. Schery addressed 
his committee at the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Association of State 
Highway Officials in Boston on October 13.

Dr. Schery presented a talk entitled "The Changing Pattern of Highway Seeding" 
before the Committee on Roadside Development.

In the presentation copies of the Institute reprints, "Use the Best Grasses for 
Your Roadsides", "Seeding America’s New Front Yard", the A.S.T.A. booklet 
on Roadside Seeding, plus sample packets of bluegrass and Oregon fescue seed 
were distributed.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ... ABOUT THE INSTITUTE AND QUALITY LAWN
GRASSES ...

"Ivar certainly was right when he told me that you would give an interesting talk 
to the Roadside Development Committee at Boston. I was quite proud that I 
could arrange for such a man as you to appear before this committee and I can 
tell you that your paper was well received and outstanding.

"If in any I can repay you for this favor, please do not hesitate to ask."

John G. Butter
Chief Engineer
State Highway Commission 
Ames, Iowa

"It was with great interest that I read your story on bluegrass in a recent issue 
of Horticulture Magazine. This is especially well done. It is just the kind of 
thing that will help elevate the professional status of horticulturists in general, 
and it is the kind of thing that you rarely see.

"May I compliment you most sincerely."

Donald P. Watson, Professor 
Ornamental Horticulture 
Michigan State University

"Thanks for your wonderful letter and kind permission to use the grass map and 
other parts of the text to go along with it.

"This is going to be a good addition, believe me. I’ve always felt you’re one of 
the best turf men in the country."

George Abraham
The Green Thumb Program 
WHAM
Rochester, New York