25th Y e ar No. 120 P U B L I S H ED F I VE T I M ES Y E A R LY F OR L A W N T H U S I A S TS N EW AID TO L A W NS Scientists have known for years that fungi and other soil-borne organisms take quite a toll of plant life in the early part of the growing season. Much loss formerly blamed on winter-kill is now recognized as due to plant diseases. This applies to grasses in lawns as well as to clover, alfalfa, grains and other farm crops. The organisms caus- ing trouble in grasses have not all been isolated but it is known that pathogens such as the genus Pythium, Helminthos- porium and Rhizoctonia do attack grass roots as well as crowns and stem. Fungi become active as the soil warms when there is abundant moisture, and gener- ally good grass growing weather. Through the years Scotts Research has tried to find a chemical that would control the recognized fungi. As usual, the first tests were made in the green- house and although these offered little encouragement, outdoor tests were in- augurated. Scotts research, in working with mer- cury compounds for Crabgrass control, noted that their regular applications had an unexplained stimulating effect on desirable grasses. This was so strik- ing that turf scientists outside the Scott organization insisted that SCUTL appar- ently contained fertilizer because the treated grasses were usually so much greener. The grass was greener but not as a result of feeding. During the course of Crabgrass trials, greenhouse and out-of-doors, it became evident to Scotts investigators that the mercury in Scutl must be inhibiting the fungi, thus controlling diseases and producing a stronger, healthier growth of grass. Effect of SCUTL on weed seed germination Scotts Lawn Research Photo No 1 — No treatment, normal seedling. No 2,3,4 — Effect of very light applications. No 5, 6 — Sprout killed before emergence by normal rate application. As long as five years ago these results were noted in mid-summer when Crab- grass treatments were in progress. The results looked so good that treatments were moved forward into the early part of the growing season. There was much skepticism as to the possible value of applying SCUTL in A p r il and May. Nevertheless, several years of experi- mentation has consistently shown bene- ficial results in reducing injury from grass diseases with the simultaneous ef- fect of reducing weed growth. It is not surprising that mercury in- hibits plant diseases. In dilute forms, various mercury compounds are still among the more important antiseptics. Besides its use in internal medicine, mercury is employed as a germicide in skin ointments, antiseptic soaps and eye washes. Many fungicides used in flower and vegetable crop cultivation embody some form of mercury as the active in- gredient. In addition to inhibiting fungus growth, some of the mercury com- pounds definitely inhibit growth of weed and grass seedlings. This happens when the seedling sprout absorbs mer- cury from the soil or possibly as it is picked up by the emerging leaves. Not all lawns suffer from disease in- jury in the spring. However, in cases where lawns have tended to lose color or thin out in May or June, it may be worth while to try a disease prevention program with SCUTL. Or, if Goose Grass, Foxtail and similar weed grasses are a summer problem, the late spring SCUTL applications may control these weeds, as well as Crabgrass through its anti-germinant properties. the about Start applications blooms time Dandelion turn white. Apply SCUTL at normal rate with the Scotts Spreader, when the grass is damp, as from dew. Leave a small area untreated to check results. Repeat at two week for a total of four treatments for disease and early summer weed control. Watch for late germinating Crabgrass. If it ap- intervals pears, continue the two-week schedule through July. This program will have a three-way value : 1, Control Crabgrass before harm the grass and discolor lawn. it can the 2, It will benefit the turf by control of diseases. 3, Control growth seedlings—also moss and algae. of other weed- reduce growth of SCUTL is selective in its action on es- tablished grass. However, it will have the same effect on sprouting seeds that were planted as on weed seeds that hap- pen to be in the soil. If extensive spring seeding has been done, the program outlined here should be delayed until the new grass has a good start. Chemicals in the News Chemicals by the score are publicized for turf use. Most are made available for controlled tests a year or two before public announcement. They are imme- diately placed into the screening pro- gram of Scotts testing. Few get any further than preliminary experiments because of toxicity to plants or harm to the soil. Those recently in the news included : Krilium—Soil amendment. Not commercially available. See Lawn Care 119. Maleic Hydrazide—claimed to stop growth so mowing is not necessary. May have lim- ited use in rough grass areas—but lawn grasses have been severely injured at concen- trations that inhibit growth. Dichloral Urea—Proposed for Crabgrass con- trol but as yet we have been unable to develop a technique to eliminate Crabgrass with this compound without injury to desirable grasses. Potassium Cyanate applied as a spray is a good control for Crabgrass at certain stages of growth. Difficult to use without tempo- rary discoloration of desirable grasses. Ken- tucky Bluegrass recovers well, Fescue and Bent are more susceptible to permanent injury. Seed disinfectants, hormones, growth régu- lants—are of doubtful value on lawn seed of well-cured, good growing quality. How to Know Good Seed In the horse and buggy days it was practically impossible to get good seed to plant on the lawn. Most of it was of mighty poor quality, of- ten so weedy as to be positively dis- graceful. Actual- ly, most lawn seed was scooped from the floor of a hay- mow. It didn't cost much but there wasn't much value either. Even farm seeds were typically of poor quality in those days. In contrast to the present, there was no inclination to supply the buyer with analysis infor- mation, such as the proportion of dif- ferent varieties and the growing ability of the seed, the content of chaff or waste matter or the amount of weed seeds. The least desirable seed was sold from farmer to farmer without being near a cleaning mill. "I know this is good seed", one farmer would say to another, "because I saved it myself", or "because it was produced on a farm next to mine". They never stopped to think of the thistle, buckhorn, dodder, sorrel and other troublesome weeds that were prevalent in the area and which the harvested crop most certainly would contain. An interesting test was used in those days to judge seed quality. The prospec- tive buyer would put his finger (the cleanest one we hope) in his mouth, stick it into the open bag of seed, then carefully inspect whatever stuck to his digit. Even in this generation, we have seen the same method employed hun- dreds of times, knowing full well that it was worthless as an accurate deter- mination of quality. Weed seeds are difficult to identify. Some of the most troublesome ones have a very inno- cent look. The late O M Scott was one of the pioneers in selection and cleaning of farm seed, starting in a modest way back in 1870. Perhaps we shouldn't say it was a sign of virtue—maybe just a stubborn desire to supply something better. This much we know—"O M" also had an abhorrence of weeds. He thoroughly detested them, being aware as a farmer that they cut deeply into the value of a crop. His zeal to produce a better and cleaner seed has carried over through the years and continues the basic aim of the Scott organization. Actually, there is much more to the value of lawn seed than purity, germi- nation and weed con- tent. There is a vast difference in turf- producing ability of various grass varie- ties. Hundreds of test plots are under year-around observation at Scotts Lawn Research to guide in variety selection. Constant evaluation of countrywide performance is another reason why Scotts is the most respected lawn seed in America. Block Dirt Bandits Again Sirs: A man came to my door yesterday with a load of dirt and I asked him how much it would cost to topdress my lawn and he said it wouldn't be too much; as I have had my lawn topdressed before, I figured on seven to ten dollars, delivered. He put twenty bushels of this stuff on my lawn and then told me I owed him fifty dollars. I refused that price. Naturally quite an argument followed, but he finally left, promising he would be back. I am not the only one taken in by him. There are a few other families in my block he did the same thing to and you can well imagine I would appreciate if you would help me by analyzing the material for me. it very much to pay flying. the tempers that are ETHEL EVOY Chicago 34, 111 CJ This attempted hold-up did not turn out as badly as most. See Lawn Care 113.—ED. Spring Program Continued from Lawn Care 119 Mowing is best started as soon as there is anything to cut. Wet grounds may make this impractical, but start as soon as possible. The earlier cuttings may well be rather short, at an inch or so. If the clippings are heavy, remove them. Shorter grass and absence of clippings give the young grass a better chance. Then too, some varieties spread better laterally underground if the topgrowth is not too heavy. In contrast, short cut- ting in cool weather gets rid of the matted growth of grass that sometimes occurs. The stimulating effect of a crew cut, so to speak. Hit Weeds as They Appear Spring is an awakening time for weeds, too. Wild Onion is an early one as is Chickweed. These two are semi-resistant to action of chemical weed controls but repeat treatments will often do the job. In con- trast, Dandelions go out after one easy spreader application of Weed & Feed or 4-XD. The time for weed control applications is when their growth is active. Most weeds are particularly vul- nerable at blossoming time. Late Seeding Advice for established lawns is to roughen or scarify the soil so the seed will be buried. Otherwise much of the seed may be lost because of lack of protection. If a new lawn is to be seeded, prepare the soil as early as it is workable. Rake the seed lightly so it has a shallow covering. If possible, keep the surface constantly moist until the grass is well rooted. • It's all right to apply Turf Builder and sow seed the same day. It is a lit- tle better to put Turf Builder on first. Nothing is gained by mixing seed and Turf Builder together before seeding. Don't Buy It Loose Too often lawn enthusiasts are duped by black dirt bandits. Many too, make the mis- take of buying bulk seed sold with the claim that it's Scotts. It's better to refuse bulk offerings because Scotts is shipped only in sealed packages. • Do not use weed controls immediately ter seeding. Wait until started and has been cut a time or two. the grass af- is well There in a new lawn soil. Instead, is no easy or quick way to destroy it's liberally and seed as early as to get the grass started before hot weed seeds better to feed possible weather. Weed control can follow later. If you decide to use weed control before seeding, wait at least one week or until after a heavy rain has diluted the chemical in the soil. Then sow the seed. • LAWN CARE bulletins of special in- terest, available for the asking, include: Spring Program Grass on Slopes Weed Control Soil Testing New Lawns Grass in Shade Proper Mowing 119 118 116 115 LCD 1-4 LCD 13 LCD 5 All digestchap- ters and the more important recent issues are avail- able in convenient form. permanent T he set in a loose-leaf ring binder with room for many addi- tional issues is one dollar postpaid. The digest and current issues in a heavy paper cover is twenty-five cents, postpaid. O M SCOTT & SONS CO. ( S c B t u) M A R Y S V I L LE - - O H IO EVERY PACKAGE OF SCOTTS LAWN CARE PRODUCTS BEARS THIS TRADE - MARK AND IS SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION