A  discussion  of  the  vital  problems  of  lawn  making  and  maintenance 

P U B L I S H ED  S E V E R AL  TIMES  Y E A R LY  BY 

O.  M.  SCOTT  a  S O NS  C O M P A NY 

-  SEEDSMEN 
February  1931 

-  M A R Y S V I L L E,  O H IO 

No. 1 

Vol. IV 

SPEEDWELL 

A  World-Wide  Lawn  Pest 

—Can  Be  Controlled 

TH IS  W E ED  is  not  familiar  to  the 

average  observer,  for  instance,  like 
plantain  and  dandelion,  and  yet  it  is  one 
of  the  most  abundant  species  in  the  weed 
realm.  The  whole  world  is  its  home  and 
being  a  perennial,  speedwell  is  a  real 
sticker.  Trample  it  or  break  the  stems  at 
any  point  with  a  hoe  or  mower  and  all 
you  have  done  is  to  start  several  new 
plants  growing  instead  of 
the  original 
one. 

This  pest 

IT  C R E E P S. 
is  often  called  Creeping 
Speedwell  because  it  lies  so  close  to  the 
earth,  rooting  at  nearly  every  joint  and 
erecting  only  its  flowering  stalks.  The 
leaves  are  shaped  very  much  like  those 
of  Mouse-ear  Chickweed  and  yet  they  do 
not  form  in  such  thick  clusters.  The 
stems  are  from  two  to  ten  inches  long, 
smooth  or  only  slightly  hairy,  branching 
on  all  sides  from  the  root.  The  lower 
leaves  are  opposite, ovate, rounded,  nearly 
smooth;  while  those  on  the  erect  part 
of  the  stem  are  alternate,  narrow  and  be-
coming  more  lance-shaped.  In  the  axils 
of  the  leaves  sit  the  tiny  flowers.  These 
flowers  are  pale  blue  or  white,  striped 
with  darker  color.  They  are  less  than  a 
quarter  inch  broad.  Speedwell  propagates 
by  seeds  as  well  as  by  rooting  at 
the 
joints.  The  weed  is  in  bloom  from  April 

to  October  and  seeds  any  time  from  late 
May  until  snow  covered. 

The  plants  of  Speedwell  are  often  so 
small  and  inconspicuous  that  they  will 
hardly  be  noticed  until  they  have  com-
pletely  covered  the  ground. 

M E T H OD  OF  D E S T R U C T I O N. 

Speedwell  can  be  completely  destroyed 
by  using  a  solution  of  sodium  chlorate. 
The  same  solution  and  manner  of  appli-
cation  apply  as  in  the  case  of  Ground 
Ivy,  which  is  as  follows:  One  ounce  of 
sodium  chlorate  per  gallon  of  water  on 
each  100  square  feet  (10 x 10),  provided 
a  pressure  sprayer  is  used. 
If  applied 
with  a  sprinkling  can  a  trifle  more  solu-
tion  will  be  required  as  this  method  is 
more  wasteful.  A  thick  mat  of  Speed-
well  will  have  entirely stopped the  growth 
of  grass  so  when  the  Speedwell  has  been 
killed  the  ground  will  be  bare.  It  will 
be  time  to  fertilize  and  re-seed. 

Almost  any  drug  store  handles  sodium 
chlorate  and  the  cost  per  pound  should 
not  exceed  fifteen  cents. 

K I L L I NG  W E E DS  IN  W I N T E R. 

We  are  indebted  to  F.  A.  Welton  of 
the  Ohio  Experiment  Station  for  the  fol-
lowing  information: 

"A  few  weeds  such  as  Ground  Ivy, 
Speedwell  and  Heal-all  [all  have  been 
discussed  in  L A WN  C A R E]  can  be  killed 
by  the  use  of  Sodium  Chlorate  without 
killing  the  grass.  Moreover  they  can  be 
killed  in  winter.  Thus  the  objection  to 
discoloration  is  reduced  to  a  minimum 
and  at  that  season  the  lawn  may  be  cov-

V O L U ME  4 

[ 1] 

ered  much  of  the  time  with  snow.  When 
dandelions,  plantain  and  buckhorn  are 
killed  in  this  way,  however,  the  grass  is 
also  killed. 

over  should  not  be  exposed  to  the  ac-
cumulation  of  dust  and  dirt  but  should 
be  stored  in  a  covered  and  preferably  a 
metal  container." 

Thyme-leaved  Speedwell (Veronica Serpyllifolia) 

"Ground  Ivy,  Speedwell  and  Heal-all 
are  perennials  which,  because  of 
their 
creeping  habits,  cannot  be  controlled  by 
hand  weeding. 
In  spraying  them  with 
Sodium  Chlorate  use  one  ounce  per  gal-
lon  of  water  for  each  one  hundred  square 
feet.  A  pressure  spray  pump  is  the  most 
effective  means  of  applying  solution. 

DANGERS  OF  USING  SODIUM  CHLORATE. 
"In  the  preparation  and  use  of  a  solu-
tion  of  sodium  chlorate,  it  should  not  be 
allowed  to  come  in  contact  with  gloves, 
shoes,  clothing,  etc.,  for  if  articles  like 
those  become  saturated  and  are  allowed 
to  dry,  they  become  grave  fire  hazards. 
If  any  is  spilled  on  combustible  material, 
it  should  be  promptly  washed  off.  In  the 
very  dilute  solution  recommended  here, 
however,  little  or  no  danger  should  at-
tend 
left 

its  application.  Any  residue 

[ 2]  

VOLUME  A 

Tiling  Helped 

"I  have  tried  for  eight  years  to  get 
grass  and  failed  until  last  fall.  I  dug  up 
the  soil  and  laid  a  system  of  drain  tiling 
about  ten  or  twelve 
inches  deep,  and 
turned  the  down  spout  from  my  porch 
into  this  and  also  left  an  opening  so  that 
I  could  turn  the  hose  into  it  and  flush 
during  dry  weather.  I  ordered  seed  from 
you  and  asked  for  the  best  grade  of 
shady  seed  and  sowed  this  on  Labor 
Day. 
I  got 
the  most  wonderful  catch  that  I  have 
ever  seen  and  strangers  as  well  as  neigh-
bors  ask  me  what  kind  of  seed  I  sowed 
and  why  I  got  such  wonderful  results.  I 
fed  this  lawn  again  in  March.  I  also  fed 
it  again  early  in  June  with  your  fer-
tilizer  which  my  neighbor  divided  with 
me."—F.  E.  GOLDSBERRY,  Athens,  Ohio. 

I  used  plenty  of  fertilizer.