P U B L I S H ED IN F E B R U A R Y, M A R C H, A P R I L, A U G U ST A ND S E P T E M B ER BY O. M. S C O TT & S O NS CO. M A R Y S V I L L E, O H IO Sixteenth Year Number 76 D O GS Hi s t o r i c a l l y, dog is man's best friend, but the relations are apt to be strained when even a best friend scratches up his master's turf and Victory Garden. Still greater repercussions result if the damage is done to a neighbor's prized possessions. So many letters referring to dogs had been streaming in from readers of LAWN CARE that we presented the subject in Bul- letin No. 75, asking readers how good lawns and gardens were possible when stray canines were running wild. The response was volcanic. Many smoldering fires of resentment broke into bright flame. In fairness to those who reacted, let it be said that most of them like dogs but dislike to see lawns suffer from their unrestricted maneuverings. When paper is more abundant, we hope to publish a full and complete dog report for many of the letters received are clas- sics. It seems proper now to simply quote from as many as space permits. Letters range from bitter outbursts against dogs and their owners to practical methods of teaching the dogs better habits. Others tell how dogs might be kept off the premises. First are a few repellent suggestions of the non-militaristic type: Mansfield, Ohio—"We had a pair of matched evergreens which were constantly being damaged by dogs who followed the mail man. I went to the dime store and bought a half-dozen mouse traps, set them without baiting and put on the ground a couple of feet from the evergreens. The dogs smelled around the traps and sprang them. To say the dogs were scared half to death is putting it mildly. They now B E W A R E! make a big semi-circle around our place when they go past." Brooklyn, New York—"The only way to keep dogs from damaging other people's property is to have drastic laws, rigidly enforced, which compel people to keep their dogs at home where they belong." St. Louis, Missouri—"I have found that a few camphor balls placed around the bush, but not too near it, discourage dogs quite effectively." Manlius, New York—"You probably know of a device to shoo dogs away from shrubbery which I saw down in Virginia where a fine lot of evergreen shrubbery bordered the walks. My first impression was that the roots had been bound with wire for shipment and some had been left attached. Closer inspection showed that small black tempered wire stuck up at just the right angle to tickle dogs where they could not tolerate it." Glassboro, New Jersey—"By planting Barberry hedge around shrubbery and lawns I have been able to prevent most of the damage heretofore done by dogs. When I find dogs using a new area, a few chopped twigs of Barberry discourage the use of their paths and lawns. We have two dogs of our own and this method has been used effectively for the last ten years." COPYRIGHT BY O. M. SCOTT & SONS CO. Floral Park, L. L, New York—"Catch the stray dog and hang a sign on his neck bearing some message that will irk his owner, such as 'Rabies,' or, 'I bite nice people,' or 'My owner is too stingy to feed me.' This also works—a typewritten letter Alpena, Michigan—"I suppose there are several means of keeping dogs away but I find the most effective is a BB gun. There is no lasting harm other than the sting but the recollection long enough to keep the dog off the lawn." lingers Moline, Illinois—"I tried all kinds of powders and other means to get rid of dogs but with no success. I spent a little spare time each morning for two weeks with a BB air rifle. Now you could not coax a dog near our lawn." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—"An air rifle will do the trick. Dogs will quickly shun an area where they have had an unpleas- ant experience and by some peculiar method of communication, the informa- tion gets to other dogs." Syracuse, New York—"I managed to tolerate the neighbor's dog scratching up my lawn and disfiguring the shrubbery but when he got to taking my morning paper that was the last straw. I had no desire to injure the dog but at 40 or 50 feet the little pellet from an air rifle does no permanent harm. From my upstairs to the owner requesting him to keep his dog at home because your boy has received a .22 rifle from his Aunt Letitia." Logansport, Indiana—"Ponder over the Golden Rule and act accordingly. Keep your dog and cat in your own back yard. We need Victory Gardens and it's up to the pet owners to keep them at home." Flushing, New York—"I have best results with Liquid Chaperone as a dog repellent." Duquesne, Pennsylvania—"I always use moth balls around new plantings and in new sections and avoid the usual destruc- tion from dogs. These moth balls are not harmful and if renewed two or three times a season at a cost of a few cents, you will find that dogs will detour and not stop to visit your lawn and shrubbery." Another reader suggests using strong pepper in the same way. After a case of violent sneezes, the dog is apt to conclude that he is alergic to that spot. Webster Grove, Missouri—"Place moth balls about 15 inches apart all over the beds of broccoli and other garden plants. Of course this does not prevent dogs from passing over your premises when they are being chased but I have found they learn to avoid our garden as a matter of habit." Y.—"My company, known as Skour-Nu, Inc., manufactured two dog repellents, one called 'Badfido* and the other, 'Shufido.' The first named is used for inside purposes and Shufido for spraying on lawns and shrubbery." New YorkN. We now pass to those methods of dis- persing dogs which might come under the heading of Light Artillery: window I got to be a good shot. The dog which once had ambitions for a paper route now crosses the street when neces- sary to pass my house and his family and I are still on good terms." Greene, New York—"My own dog has been well trained and does no harm what- ever to either our lawn or shrubbery or to neighbor's premises. A few visiting dogs indicate that they have not been properly trained. An air rifle is the solution. It should not be a too powerful gun but just one which results in a good stinging." Chicago, Illinois—"An electrified wire in one or two places on your premises will give dogs a shock but the charge is not powerful enough to injure anyone else." Baraboo, Wisconsin—"Being accurate with a sling shot, I have used one of these effectively with roofing tacks for ammu- nition. Both dogs and cats were a great nuisance in our neighborhood. With this sling shot I have made our premises 'out of bounds'." New York, New York—"Having had years of experience with a large electrical concern, I would caution any of your read- ers against the use of electric fences as a protection against dogs and cats. With a heavy rain, wet ground and an electrically charged wire or fence, the first dog who stuck his snoot against the wire while his feet were planted on the valuable lawn would receive a full jolt of electric cur- rent and the chances are he would not live to tell the tale." With the following novel suggestion we shall close this discussion: Salem, Massachusetts—"I would advo- cate getting a bigger and more ferocious dog to keep the others out of the yard, or get a cat family, complete with kittens and keep them near the lawn area. I believe this solution to be the most appli- cable to the case." Further comments upon this subject will be most welcome. —• — Fall Comes Earlier Than You Think To some fall means the time of foot- ball, to others the World's Series, and to many the season of hay fever. Those of us who think of nice lawns and the importance of fall seedings should time the season with the sneezers. It may still be hot around August 15 but there are signs of change and the beginning of nature's co-operation to help along germination and seedling growrh. About then, it is evident that the days are becoming shorter, the dews heavier. After a while, cool moist weather can be expected, making soil and growing condi- tions ideal for the development of deep rooted, sturdy turf. It's well to get the seed planted early even if it continues hot and dry. The seed will not be harmed but will be in the ground ready to pop up as soon as the fall rains begin. Briefly, the fall program should be something like this: Dates—Mid-August to mid-October. Preparation—If Crabgrass is bad pre- vent seeding as described in LAWN CARE 70 and 71. Get rid of other weeds as sug- gested in various issues. Consult index. Scratch the surface soil. If good com- post is available, apply ¡4 inch topdressing especially over bare or thin spots. LAWN CARE 3. Feeding—Fertilize with Turf Builder at the rate of 10 pounds per 1000 square feet. (50x20 ft.) Seeding—Select Scotts Sunny or Shade according to whether the area gets a half- day of sun or less. Use Scotts Pure Bent for a lawn like a putting green. Sow 3 to 6 pounds per 1000 square feet (50x20), depending upon the thickness of present stand. Rake or brush seed into ground. Roll to firm soil around the seed. Watering—Growth can be hastened by watering but it is probably just as well to delay sprinkling until a cool period. After watering has been started it should be continued to keep the soil in moist condition until the grass is well rooted. S ee LAWN CARE 6 0. Mowing—Keep the grass cut at ll/2 inches. The seedling grass will not be harmed by cutting if the mower is sharp and the ground not too soft. Keep leaves raked up so they won't smother the grass. Terrace Watering Idea Arouses Interest initial story on this subject For the refer to L A WN C A RE N O. 75 wherein Mr. Albert Nordlich of Cincinnati tells how he freshened up a previously dry terrace by sinking tile into the ground and allow- ing water to flow slowly through. The first comment comes from F. W. Schwab, of Mountain View Memorial Park, Tacoma, Washington. He writes: It would seem too deep "I believe this man has a good idea but question the depth at which he is placing the tile. (10 inches) to give maximum benefit. I have frequently found areas in our turf here that get very brown because the ground is hard and bakes, thus preventing the water from regular sprinkling to pene- trate to a proper depth. In such instances I loosen the ground with a fork, take the nozzle off the hose and then let the water run slowly onto these affected areas. A slow trickle of water onto browned ter- races, such as through porous or canvas hose, might carry moisture to an adequate depth to green up the turf." J. F. Edmonds, 405 Penn Avenue, Pitts- burgh, has this to say: "There is a concern in Pittsburgh which manufactures a porous tile which would be ideal for watering terraces. I under- stand it is the only tile which can be used for either drainage or irrigation." Apparently an authority on tile is Mr. Harry J. Bovard, also of Pittsburgh, who says: "Mr. Nordlich's terrace watering scheme is good although not new. I have installed sub-irrigating and sub-drainage concrete pipe in airfields and large lawn areas for years. The unglazed clay tile laid with open end joints has been improved upon by a porous concrete pipe which is laid with tongue and grooved joints. This pipe can be laid in lawns and the ends of the lines properly stopped so as to make it usable for irrigation purposes only. In wet seasons or when there is too much water, the stops may be removed and the tile thus becomes efficient as a drainage sys- tem." We shall be glad to refer those inter- ested in such tile to the manufacturer for further comments from our readers upon sub-irrigation of lawns will be appreciated. information. Other Points Not Needed For Scott Lawns A new order covering the distribution of fertilizers for this fall and next spring has been issued by the War Food Admin- istration. This means that we may resume the manufacture of Turf Builder for lawn feeding. The quantity is held consider- ably under a normal year but as in the case of food for humans we can get along with a little stretching. In any event Scott Lawns are assured of an adequate food supply for this fall and next spring. Turf Builder is approximately pre-war formula with a high Nitrogen content which grass needs. As the Turf Builder situation seems likely to improve we are asking for a voluntary ration of orders to minimum fall needs. Scotts Lawn Seed may be had in maxi- mum quantities even though grass pro- duction this year has been sharply cur- tailed. Mother Nature failed to deliver the kind of weather necessary for large seed yields. We have been fortunate in obtain- ing our full requirements and the cleaning mills are fast bringing it up to Scott quality. Experienced old time blenders are still on the job exercising the same skill in selection and cleaning as in the 25 years gone by. O. M. SCOTT & SONS CO. MAR Y S V I L LE • • O H IO EVERY PACKAGE OF SCOTTS LAWN SEED BEARS THIS TRADE MARK AND IS SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION