P U B L I S H ED FIVE TIMES YEARLY A ND DISTRIBUTED FREE TO LOVERS OF B E A U T I F UL T U RF EG. U S PAT OFF Vol. IX No. 1 February 1936 WHITE CLOVER IN LAWNS 8 3 . o N e v i t u c e s n o C First let us consider some of the essential facts re- garding White Dutch Clo- ver, called "Dutch" be- (trifolium cause it first became a cul- tivated crop in Holland. It inhabits Eu- rope, southwestern Asia, Siberia and northern Africa. There is some doubt as to its being native to the United States and Canada. W H I TE C L O V ER White Clover is particularly adapted to a moist and medium warm climate. This easy propagation accounts for much White Clover appearing in areas COPYRIGHT, 1935, BY O. M. SCOTT & SONS CO. one T EAVE Clo- ' yer out of any mixture you send us. We de- test it in a lawn " group. says rrPlease add some extra Clover to the mixture. We want of it," another group. more says Thus opinions d i f f er on the merit of White Clover as a lawn mixture ingredi- ent. Some classify it as a weed while others consider no lawn complete without it. The situation is an uncomfortable one for the seedsman. Nevertheless, it can withstand a normal spell of drouth provided the subsoil con- tains some mois- ture. Most of the roots of White Clover are near the surface, con- sequently t he spread of the plant is affected by hot weather. The main tap root, however, p e n e t r a t es to a considerable depth and the plant will survive is some subsoil moisture. As indi- cated by the illustration, White Clover has a defi- nite spreading habit. The creeping stems branch freely and develop numer- ous roots. T h us l a r ge repens) patches may form very readily. The heads likewise produce many seeds which fall to the ground and keep their vitality a long time. A few seeds dropped to the ground may thus make surprisingly large patches. there if where it has not been sown. It is also quite probable that the seeds of clover reach many lawns through topsoil and manure. During what is called a clover year the whole countryside appears to be a veritable sea of clover and yet there may have been no recent seedings. Just why, no one has been able to fully ex- plain. The same phenomenon occurs with farm clovers which are planted for hay and pasture crops. One objection to White Clover in lawns is that it may die out suddenly, leaving ugly bare patches in the lawn. Disease accounts for considerable of loss while winter injury is another important factor. this White Clover is a legume by virtue of which it is enabled to take its nitrogen from the air and conserve the soil supply. Thus clover is frequently a success on nitrogen-starved soil where other ground coverings have been a complete failure. This nitrogen-gathering ability of clo- ver may in part account for the fact that one year there may be much clover fol- lowed by a season when practically none is evident. When clover is growing vigor- ously it is storing considerable nitrogen in the soil. This may prove its own undoing by the accumulation of so much nitrogen that it becomes toxic to the clover. As the plants die and the roots decay there is released an abundance of nitrogen which is quite stimulating to grass. If there is a sufficient foundation of grass plants in the lawn they may soon take complete possession, lasting until this ni- trogen supply is diminished or exhausted, after which clover may come into the ascendency again because it can take its own nitrogen from the air. In this way the clover-grass-clover cycle is started all over again. In the light of the divergence of opinion on the subject of clover and its adaptability to lawns, there seems but one logical solution. Let those who like it sow it alone and not in a mixture. There is good reason for this recommendation. First, the seeds of clover are heavier and of a different size than grass seed. It is difficult, therefore, to prepare a uniform mixture which will not in the process of handling result in the clover settling to the bottom of the package. Second, there are usually certain areas in the lawn where clover is wanted for special duty, for ex- ample to combat some weed or to fill in where grasses have failed. Third, clover should be sown only in the spring. When fall-seeded, the plants seldom reach a stage of development which permits them to survive the winter season. Clover seeds are small and go a long way in sowing, thus one need purchase no more than a pound of pure Clover seed for about ten to fifteen pounds of grass seed. Since White Clover seed shows practically no loss in germinating ability under two years, it is safe to keep a small amount on hand for a seeding emergency. OUR POSITION Regular specified it. Now In the past, a small amount those who seed has been he to and to White Clover in Scott's the purchaser not want both who do not, we have decided it from separately. seed the will correct include the mixture as before, charge. adapted clude of included Mixture—unless that did serve in order those like Clover omit and o f f er Clover we in extra is not in- request proportion without Since White Clover to shady places, we never it in our Shade Mixture. the mixture Upon "Here is a suggestion for killing ants. Take an ordinary oil can, the one you use in oiling your lawn mower, fill it with any fly spray, shoot a squirt or so in each hole where the ants call home and they immediately put up a sign cAnty doesn't live here any more'."—E. H. M I L E S, Fort Atkinson, Wis. Another Customer Finds Weeds In England Dr. Harry P. Weld, a former citizen of Marysville, now head of the Depart- ment of Psychology at Cornell Univer- sity, did some garden inspecting in Eu- rope last summer. From London he wrote: "We have visited many gardens and have seen the famous lawns of England. Most of them have weeds in them, which was a comfort to me." English lawns have always been cited as examples of perfection. Moist air makes it easier to keep them green but weeds don't object to moisture either. • Skunks Feature In New Dandelion Story Do skunks like dandelions? This ques- tion would not appear in an intelligence test but it was asked for a good reason by Mr. E. W. Tapley of Castine, Maine, who wrote A (below). Because we had never heard of Ohio skunks having a dandelion complex we wrote to the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station to find if our Ohio "cats" were behind the times. The report by Mr. Tapley, C. reply, B. Later enemy indicates dande- possible some find A. P7 might say that my worst letter I dug infested with them up as fast as concerning lawn was rrThe in your overlooked skunk, skunk would always last year was Mr. Skunk which that my lions. but friend I had B. wrote doubtless other root-eating far as we know, Ohio, salad." •4' C. rrl might delion knowledge the root of seek (Maine Experiment there is some the dandelion live game and nat insects, skunks, add, regarding and Skunk' for white digging topic, which you of April 12th, was or grubs, in the lawn. So in Maine as in dandelion Station.) the that rDan- to my sort of grub at as or rAmeca' the there leaves correct a the (I believe lawn and it, so it isnt up always the plant he hole in the he has pulled lies is of your L A WN CARE readers you information. that after a good moonlight it is called. ence.) Mr. Skunk always shaped which side Some give know in midsummer, and perhaps that rather on your repair and less dandelions—": is a d i f f e r- cone plant be- after. can I do night is very unsightly agree with me skunk patiently lawns Tapley.) For grub control data please refer to the lawn you would than shoot for better (E. W. lawn, you would lawn. Yours trap a front the or Volume 2, No. 3, L A WN CARE. • Top-Dressing Applied is Helpful Spring in in mixing "In this connection, as you have sug- gested ideas on distribution of fertilizer on lawns, would say that the writer has had more success fertilizer with some other material, when using a top-dressing in the spring. At that time of the year, lawns will frequently be benefited by a top-dressing of dirt any- how and by using dirt that is not too wet, mixing some in a wheelbarrow, with the fertilizer, spreading on the lawn and then using the back of a rake, it ac- complishes two purposes at one time. Where a clay sod is maintained, sand is very beneficial and can be used also with the dirt and any other material required, such as lime or swamp humus if procur- able. In many country districts there is lots of pure black humus in swamps that can be taken out the fall before and allowed to freeze out when it becomes almost like flour. This is very beneficial to lawns and a fine substance to mix fer- tilizer with. I always spread a lot of good, rich soil on boards and let it dry out sufficiently to be quite free of mois- ture and then mix it with the fertilizing materials, for spring use."—C. R. AN- DERSON, 916 Shore Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. Winter Injury to Trees IN a recent bulletin published by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, an article under the above title by R. P. White, Associate Plant Patholo- gist, appeared. We quote from it as fol- lows: than in many "It is not surprising that the last two winters should have some influence on shade trees. Frost cracks were more com- mon years. Norway Maples were dying all last summer with no apparent cause except winter injury. Trees injured by winter are weakened throughout the growing season and as a result are more subject to attack by var- ious diseases and insect pests. It has been repeatedly observed that well fertilized trees do not suffer from the summer drouth period and is reason to believe they also withstand with greater ease, the rigors of winter. Shade tree fertilization practices are not stand- ardized, but recognized among arborists that a complete plant food containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potash is necessary. Some favor fall fertilization, some spring. Both will pro- duce the desired results as has been re- peatedly proved in general practice." is generally there that it Scott's Turf Builder is an ideal tree food. It contains the correct ration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash as well as the proper balance of organic and in- organic materials. L A WN CARE for Sep- tember 1929 contains an account of tree feeding by the most approved method. • He Stoops to Conquer "As your L A WN CARE contains very valuable hints I would like to pass one on for what it may be worth and should you desire to use it please omit my name. "I have a clasp attached to my lawn mower handle in which I carry an as- paragus knife and I find it very conve- nient when mowing the lawn to stoop and cut out an occasional weed." Scott Publications This issue of L A WN CARE is just one of a series of such bulletins published five times each year. Subscriptions are free to anyone interested. In addition you can obtain several other Scott publications on lawns, including the following: Lawns—The amateur gardener's guide to better lawns. Condensed but very com- plete information on soils, fertilizing and seeding. Free. Bent Lawns—A practical discussion of the most beautiful of all lawn grasses. Tells how to plant with either seed or stolons. Several natural color illustrations. Free. Lawn Care—This issue of these bulletins which have been pub- lished continuously since 1928. In pre- vious numbers the following lawn prob- lems have been discussed: 1928—Crab Grass, Dandelions. 1929—Moss, Grubs and Beetles, Chick- is the thirty-fifth 1930—Ground Ivy, Yarrow, Earthworms, weed, Buckhorn. Heal-all, Ants. 1931—Speedwell, Creeping Buttercup, Moles, Knot Grass. 1932—Sheep Sorrel, Quack Grass, Spurge, Trefoil, Goose Grass. 1933—Nimble Will, Knawel, Terraces, Shepherd's Purse, Chinch Bugs. 1934—Sedge, Shade, Purslane. 1935—Peppergrass, Shade, Crabgrass, Summer Injury to Turf. or stamps coyer. in coin in a paper Send 10 cents back issues for all A Lawn Care Binders loose-leaf binder of imita- tion leather con- taining all back issues of Lawn Care with an in- dex, is available. K i n d ly send $1 to partly defray costs. This binder will serve as a convenient file for all lawn information.