Year PUBLISHED FIVE TIMES YEARLY FOR LAWNTHUSIASTS THE ROLE OF SOIL TESTING the extreme opposite, namely, a or tight compact clay into which no vege- tation can force its roots. Of course, a good loam soil provides better growing conditions than either extreme. The important factor in soils from a chemical standpoint is the pH value; that is, whether they are alkaline, acid or neutral. This indicates whether lime is needed to improve growing condi- tions. Other laboratory tests are made to measure the plant food content of a soil, such as amounts of nitrogen, phos- phorus and potash. These tests, how- ever, have little practical value since they do not show whether such ele- ments are present in forms that can be utilized by plants. W h en Tests Important. To have a soil test made involves some effort in preparing the sample, mailing it, and a nominal charge laboratory work. This is fully justified in many for the Two major criteria indicate the value is of a soil for turf purposes. One physical, the other chemical. to particle The physical condition of a soil is the more important. This varies accord- ing and their arrangement Such characteristics in turn are modified by the content of decaying organic matter, called humus. (structure). sizes (texture) While the agronomist classifies soils into scores of narrow groups, a few broad classifications suffice in consid- ering lawn soils. These range from the loose, coarse particles of a sand through the finer silt particles to the very fine particles of clay. the happy medium of a loam; a mixture of sand, silt and clay with a generous content of humus. In between is Most any native topsoil provides a suitable base for turf growth unless it is so stony and coarse as to be gravel, MR-669 circumstances of which the following examples are typical: 1. Soils of established lawns should be tested, if A. The lawn is not doing well in spite of careful attention. is quick and severe short periods of B. There during heat or drouth. injury extreme C. Applications of lawn food or weed injury result in control chemicals rather than benefit. 2. Soil tests for new lawns are often made for these reasons, A. Plans can be made in advance for improvement such as modifi- cation of the physical soil condi- tion or to offset extreme acidity. B. Tests of several samples may be upon advisable the purchase of topsoil. deciding before C. Some folks may wish to make de- cisions for or against home sites as a result of a laboratory ap- praisal of the topsoil. Getting Soils Tested. In some states the agricultural experiment station of- fers soil testing service at a small fee or on a complimentary basis. Soil test service is also offered by Scotts at a nominal charge of one dollar for the first sample, plus fifty cents for each additional the same time. submitted at sample The Scotts soil test includes a report describing the physical condition and suggestions for its improvement as well as recommendations on possible use of lime. (See Column 2.) SIRS: • I would appreciate very much if you would send me your free subscription to LAWN CARE as advertised in the January issue of American Home. Also I would like to express my approval of two of your products—SCUTL and 4-X Weed Control. I just bought a new home this past year and the rear lawn was smothered with weeds and Crabgrass. After three appli- cations of 4-X my lawn was completely free of weeds. As for SCUTL, I have never seen anything remove Crabgrass so completely as this product. Our two applications of this product of yours. Thanks for SCUTL and 4-X as they have saved me hours of hard work and precious time. lawn only needed DONALD SCHOEDLER. Overland, Mo. SCOTTS SOIL TESTING SERVICE The lead story carries suggestions as to when soil tests may be advisable. This may be in connection with a new lawn or plans to improve an old one. Samples of available topsoil, topdress- ing, humus, "black dirt" or other mate- rials may be checked before making a substantial investment. to illustrate Better criticism of soil from estab- lished lawns can be provided if a sam- ple of sod is submitted. This should be representative of growing conditions in the lawn. If these vary greatly it would be better to send as many samples as required the variations. Keep each sample separate, identified as to location. Proper S a m p l i ng Established Turf. Cut actual plugs of sod from the lawn, using a trowel or flat spade. Have them at least 4 inches square and 5 or 6 inches deep. Wrap firmly in waxed paper so section reaches laboratory as it was taken from the ground. Loose Materials. About a pint of soil is required. The sample should be rep- resentative of the whole. Take mate- rials from various locations and mix together to make a composite sample. Do not mix soils that are conspicuously different. Instead wrap and label each type separately. Containers. Coffee cans or any tin cans holding at least a pint with tight fitting lids make good containers for composite soil samples. Freezer canis- ters also make suitable shipping cartons but require outer wrapping for added protection. The use of glass jars and bottles is discouraged because of breakage. Sod and soil plugs require careful wrapping in substantial shipping car- tons made to fit the sample. Loosely packed sod samples arrive badly scram- bled making diagnosis of the sod and root condition difficult. The d a r k e r, r i c h er c o l or r e s u l t ed f r om a l a wn f e e d i n g. N o te t he l i g h t er ofF-color strips in r i g ht b a c k g r o u nd w h e re o p e r a t or m i s s ed w i th t he s p r e a d e r. M a i l i ng Samples Advise by letter the number of sam- ples being sent, stating the lawn prob- lem or question. If soil is from an established lawn, describe past experi- ence in as much detail as possible. Do not place letter inside package as that would subject the entire shipment to first class postage. Instead— 1. Put letter in envelope properly ad- letter postage, and dressed, paste to outside of package. carrying return address sender's 2. Place on package as well as the address of the laboratory. Affix stamps to package at parcel post rates. in the Allegheny Mountains or east of them or in any Jap Beetle quarantine zone should for- ward samples to: residing Those O. M. S C O TT & S O NS C o. R I D G E F I E L D, N. All others send to: J. O. M. S C O TT & S O NS C o. M A R Y S V I L L E, O H IO S E ND Do N OT R E M I T T A N CE with sample. A bill for the services will be sent with the report, on the basis of one dollar for the first sample, plus fifty cents for each additional submitted at the same time. SEED SITUATION In times like these, there is much talk about scare buying. People try to anticipate their future needs and buy ahead. It is difficult for a seed business to do that because of the problem of perishability. Seed scarcities usually result injury at harvest from time, drouth, crop late spring freezes, floods, plant dis- eases and, occasionally, to a short labor supply when the crop is ready for har- vest. Because grass seed comes from such a large geographical area, almost the entire world, the same factors sel- dom affect all varieties at once. Only a small percentage of any har- vest will make Scott quality. In two seasons in the early forties, there were times in late spring when there was not enough Scott quality seed to take care of all the demand. Frankly, no such spring emergency is hardly the time for although this bold statements. Airfields, army camps, defense plants, and aid to Europe can make quite a drain on seed supplies. is expected this In the early part of the year, Scott seed stocks are ample and the quality, thanks to constantly improved harvest- ing and processing techniques, was never so high. Grass Clippings To fall or not to fall, that is the question. In answering this question to the satisfac- tion of all, Mr. Shakespeare would come in mighty handy. It is controversial only to this extent—is the lawn being maintained for its beauty or to return to the ground an inconse- quential amount of humus? The LAWN CARE position has been fre- quently stated. The clippings are probably of more value used elsewhere than on the lawn. They have little or no plant food but do serve as a mulch for gardens or shrub beds. If allowed to dry on the ground 24 hours after mowing, the bulk necessary to rake up is greatly reduced. Our best story about clippings came some years ago from a housewife who apparently had fought a heated battle with her husband on the subject. She wanted us to umpire the bout, provided we sided with her. She stated her position and gave us this helpful hint: "It that you agree with me because I have had very harsh words over this." is absolutely necessary "Scotts" TRADE N A ME Federal Judge McCarthy of the Bos- ton District Court permanently enjoined one Leslie N. Harvey of Leominister, Massachusetts, from the trade name "Scotts" on grass seed and similar products. illegal use of T h is was the outcome of a court action arising from the sale of an in- ferior blend of seed purported to be the genuine "Scotts Seed" long adver- tised and sold as a specific brand in Massachusetts and other N ew England states. its trade-mark but T he company is ever alert to prevent misuse of it never learns about many such cases. There- fore, the buying public wishing Scotts Seed is urged to accept it in only the original sealed packages, and to make such purchases from known sources. N ot B u r n, S t a r v a t i on Quite often folks write in after plant food applications saying they seemed to have yel- lowed streaks of grass and that the grass seems to be dying. The assumption is that burning is the cause. On investigation, it is usually found that instead of burn, the streaks are the result of starvation, that is, they were missed in the application of plant food. • SIRS: A recent suggestion for "easier mowing" comes from LAWN CARE reader W. Philip McBride of Evanston, Illinois: "After the lush growth of spring is past, I detach the catcher and let the clippings fall. However, I mow completely around the plot, always walking in a counter-clockwise direction. Since the mower throws the clippings to the left, that is into the uncut grass where they are cut over and scattered again when the grass is cut. In mowing along a walk, it is well to remember that the mower throws the clippings to the left. By walking in the proper direction, the clippings can be thrown back on the lawn or on the walk as desired." "I have now tried your Weed & Feed on a portion of my lawn where I had quite a I am glad to say this lot of weed growth. has disappeared, which is a tribute to the efficiency of the weed killer content of the product. The grasses appear to have been stimulated, so that it would seem your "Weed & Feed" works under Australian conditions just as well as in your own country. DENHAM BROS. PTY. LTD. Rockhampton, Australia. O M S C O TT & S O NS C O. ( ¿ ¡ C O ^ G i) M A R Y S V I LL E - - O H IO EVERY PACKAGE OF SCOTTS LAWN CARE PRODUCTS BEARS THIS TRADE - MARK A ND IS S E A L ED FOR YOUR PROTECTION