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 C O ., M A R Y S V I L L E, O H IO February 1930 T H I RD Y E AR G R O U ND Number 8 I VY GROUND IVY is the most familiar name for the lawn weed shown in the illustration, but there are others by which it is known in some localities: for example, Field Balm, Gill-over-the Ground, Gill-Ale, Ale-Hoof, and Cat's- Foot. The association of Ivy with ale is accounted for in the fact that years ago the plants were used to flavor and clarify home-brewed ale. Its other names have no doubt been efforts to describe the leaves and the habit of the plants to inhabit thickly any area which they infest. Ground Ivy is a perennial and propagates by means of seeds and root stocks. Blooms in small clusters of pale purple spotted with deeper pur- ple, usually ap- pear between April and July. The leaves of Ground Ivy are kidney- shaped, scalloped and green on both sides. The stems contain many joints at which roots develop. A Sociable Weed Like Plantain, Ground Ivy is a do- mesticated weed, being most familiar around dwellings and in towns. By its very nature of growth Ivy protects itself against easy eradication. It is a very pronounced creeper and thrives under close clipping. Ivy will frequently oc- cupy the ground to the exclusion of all other vegetation. Furthermore it be- comes so entwined with the grass as to make hand digging almost impossible. For years this plant was rated as one of the most obnoxious lawn pests with which, says a Department of Agricul- ture bulletin, "one must learn to live rather than to en- tertain hope of its extermination." A Sure Cure The old method of exterminating Ground Ivy was to skim off the shallow layer that contained the roots and relay new sod or reseed. Now it has been dis- covered that the plants can be en- tirely destroyed without lasting injury to the grass by a single spraying with a solution of sodium chlorate. Detailed directions for the use of so- dium chlorate will be found in Lawn Care Number 2 for September 1928. Use one to two ounces per gallon of water on each 100 square feet (10 by 10 feet), providing a pressure sprayer is used. If applied with a sprinkling GROUND IVY (Gleconia hederacea) can, a trifle more solution will be re- quired as this method is somewhat more wasteful. The leaves of the Ivy should be thoroughly covered. While this plan can best be carried out in the fall, any time during the grass growing season will be satisfac- tory. The spray will discolor the grass for a short time, but will have no per- right half of the illustration. The above application will kill the Ground Ivy during the winter months without injuring the grass. For this reason late fall is an excellent time to get after Ground Ivy with this chemi- cal. Discoloration of the surrounding grass is reduced to a minimum in the winter-time control. SPRAYING KILLS GROUND IVY Left, unsprayed; right, sprayed with Sodium Chlorate and reseeded manently injurious effect. When the Ground Ivy disappears there will likely be discovered a very thin stand of grass so that fertilizing and reseeding will be found necessary. If the sodium chlo- rate is used in the late fall it will be well to wait until early spring to reseed and fertilize, preferably when the ground is honeycombed. An area thus treated, fer- tilized and reseeded is shown in the H e a l - A ll a nd Crabgrass Mr. Albert A. Faulk of South Bend, Indiana, makes this comment: "I find that sulfate of ammonia kills Heal-All very readily. As for Crabgrass I find that by raking this grass thor- oughly with a dandelion rake, then cut- ting with the mower set low, I have gotten rid of at least two-thirds of the Crabgrass." O. M. S C O TT & S O NS CO. M AR YS V I L LE O H IO EVERY PACKAGE OF SCOTTS L A WN SEED BEARS THIS TRADE-MARK A ND IS SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION 8a