P U B L I S H ED IN FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, AUGUST A ND SEPTEMBER BY O. M. SCOTT & SONS CO., MARYSVILLE, OHIO April 1941 FOURTEENTH YEAR Number 65 M O N E Y W O RT Mo n e y w o rt or Lysimachia numularia, as the botanists know it, was named in honor of Lysimachus, Greek General and King of Thrace, back in the third century before Christ. Moneywort, true to its heritage, makes a stubborn stand in moist, shaded areas in lawns. Our discussion of this weed, while timed with events in the Bal- kans, is inspired more by the fact that its growth has steadily become more noticeable. Like many other weeds, Moneywort has been thought to have medicinal stop the flow of blood there has always been a superstition to the effect that injured snakes crawled over the foliage of Moneywort to heal their wounds. Another name for the weed arising from this legend is Serpentaria. Many localities have given Money- wort a special name. Aside from those already mentioned, a common one is Creeping Charlie and others Creeping Jenny, Yellow Myrtle and Creeping Loosestrife. As its various nicknames imply, Moneywort is a creeping, yellow flowered perennial. It blooms from MONEYWORT (Lysimachia numula properties. One of its names, Loose- strife, meaning release from struggle, is evidence that the weed was thought to possess some healing powers.. The bruised leaves of the plant are said to have qualities resembling those of an astringent. Because it was supposed to ia). Note low-growing, vining habit. June to August. Its leaves have prac- tically no stems and are as round as coins, hence its most common name, money plant or Moneywort. With the exception of its leaves being arranged directly opposite one another on the main stem, Moneywort is similar in C O P Y R I G HT 1941, BY O. M. SCOTT & S O NS CO. appearance to Thyme-leaved Speedwell. See L A WN CARE N O. 1 3, February 1 9 3 1. Moneywort vines along the surface of the ground with joints occurring about every inch along its stem. Oppo- site each of these stem joints are located its two round, waxy leaves. Wherever the joints touch the soil, roots grow out and anchor the plant in a low, prostrate position. Its habit of growth is so low that Moneywort escapes even the closest lawn mowing, unless the stems are first lifted with a rake. it lawns. Since improving the drainage. When favored by shade and mois- ture, Moneywort will become a serious pest in likes moist ground so well, it may be discouraged by It may also be controlled by hand weeding, although care should be to remove every bit of stem or else a sin- gle fragment will take root at a joint and reinfest the spot. It is well to raise the runners of this pest with a rake and follow by mowing closely. Repeated raking and mowing alternately from different angles will eradicate it. taken A new type of weeding rake has recently been patented which appears to be most promising in lawn work. It resembles a large table fork with its tines bent or curved backward like a series of hooks. When used with a back and forth raking motion these curved spikes comb through the grass blades without disturbing the turf roots, but at the same time gather up the pros- trate stems and foliage of matted weeds such as Moneywort and Chickweed. Its pinching action cleans the pest out by the roots more thoroughly than anything yet perfected. While it is seldom found in culti- vated gardens, when Moneywort inhab- its waste places it may be controlled by spraying with Sodium Chlorate. One pound of the chemical is dissolved in one gallon of water. This is a sufficient quantity in volume and strength to spray on 200 square feet of weed infested ground. The chlorate solution applied in this way will kill practically all vegetation with which it comes in contact. Because of the fire hazard involved Sodium Chlorate must be used with caution as discussed in L A WN CARE NO. 2 for September 1928. Moneywort was introduced into this country from Europe as an ornamental. It has been used as a ground cover in shaded places but is definitely a pest in lawns. This weed may still be used as a decorative plant on banks and in rock gardens if the soil is not too dry. But we consider the use of Moneywort as a ground cover inadvisable because the plants are almost certain to get out of hand and eventually become a seri- ous pest in adjacent lawns. $ TO STOOP OR NOT TO STOOP? Mr. Clarence E. Wilcox of Detroit, Michigan, says: "After studying all of the various cures and panaceas against the enemies of a good lawn, I still believe that the best way to eliminate undesirable weed growth is by the knee, knife and out- by-the-roots method, plus a little Scotts Lawn Seed in the scar. While it is a slow and tedious method, it is fun if you like it. I have read that 'Cactus Jack' Garner picks up a hundred pecans every day to keep down the belt line. Pulling out Crabgrass is a better cure, in my opinion." Mr. J. Frank Hamblen of Kenyon, R. I., presents the other side: require four and "Am amused at the back-breaking, time-wasting energy some spend on Dandelion erasure. Our lawns are very large and three- quarters hours with a power mower to cut, yet with a patented weeder I have, which has two movable jaws on a long handle, I pause for an instant over each weed and then it is out, root and plant; so weeds, including Dog Grass, are the least of my troubles. No back- breaking work—just a little walking."