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THREE CLASSES OF LAWN TURF.

The lawn grower must make a choice between three general classes of turf, and all treatment should be consistent with the characteristics of the one of these to be selected.

The Blue Grass-White Clover Lawn. This forms a sod which is all that the average person desires but it presents two main difficulties. It is possible only on a soil well supplied with lime, and under these conditions greater trouble is experienced with weeds such as dandelion and plantain. In all cases where the soil is acid, as is the natural condition almost everywhere in Connecticut, lime or limestone must be applied usually at the rate of 75 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. of hydrated lime, or 100 lbs. of finely pulverized limestone. If there is any question as to the acidity of the soil, representative samples may be sent to the Soils Department of the Experiment Station for examination. Since the soil for this type of lawn must be kept "sweet," nitrate of soda is the preferable nitrogenous top dressing. An annual spring application of 5 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. of this material, with the addition of 3 lbs. of muriate of potash, and every two or three years, 10 lbs. of bone meal, is recommended. In midsummer the application of nitrate of soda should be repeated. The fertilizer materials may be mixed with sand or loam to facilitate their distribution and prevent burning.

The Mixed Grass, Acid-Tolerant Lawn. Many grasses, such as red top, Rhode Island bent and red fescue, are not injured by soil acidity, and produce in mixture a dense turf of fine texture and excellent appearance. On an acid soil, less difficulty is experienced from dandelion, plantain and similar weeds. On such a sod lime should not be used. In the fertilizer treatment sulfate of ammonia at the rate of 4 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. should be substituted for the nitrate of soda, and it is probable that it would be well to use acid phosphate (16%) at the rate of 20 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. instead of the bone meal.

The "Putting Green" Lawn. The enthusiastic lawn grower strives to duplicate the wonderful velvety carpet growth of uniform quality and texture which is to be seen on the putting greens of the best golf courses. Such lawns require special care in establishment to obtain pure stands of a uniform type. red fescue or creeping bent (German bent) are adapted to this type of lawn, preferably the latter. Creeping bent may be produced by planting stolons of a pure strain, and thus any difficulty in obtaining seed of uniform type is avoided. It is almost impossible to transform the average lawn into this condition without reseeding. Either creeping bent or red fescue are acid-tolerant, and the use of lime on such lawns is undesirable. Fertilizer treatment as for the previous type of turf is usually satisfactory.

OTHER FERTILIZER MATERIALS FREQUENTLY USED ON LAWNS. Stable manure, when obtainable in a well rotted, pulverized condition, is an excellent top dressing in fall, winter, or early spring, but the practice of applying fresh manure in the fall, raking off the coarse material in the spring, cannot be recommended. This is almost certain to introduce many weeds into the lawn.

Pulverized sheep manure is a material of fine mechanical condition and free from weed seeds, but is often deficient in strength, and is too expensive for the average householder.

Whenever available, compost or mushroom soil are excellent for top dressing. However, all the above materials are rapidly becoming more difficult to obtain, and the average person living under urban conditions must look to chemical fertilizers for lawn maintainance.

Mixed fertilizers when composed of suitable materials in correct proportions, are simple and convenient to use. One must ascertain whether the fertilizer has a tendency to increase or decrease soil acidity, owing to the importance of this factor in relationship to the type of lawn to be produced. A fertilizer containing 8% ammonia, 6% available phosphoric acid and 6% potash (8-6-6) or similar analysis, should be a desirable lawn. fertilizer, when used at the rate of 15 or 20 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. as a spring application.

MORE WATER AND LESS WEEDS.

A good lawn should be rolled frequently and kept short through frequent clipping, and whenever possible, liberal watering during dry seasons should be practiced, especially on the sandier types of soil. It must be remembered that 1000 sq. ft. of lawn will transpire at least 300 gallons of water on warm days. Sprinkling should not be practiced during the hottest portions of the day, since much water is thus lost through direct evaporation.

Eternal vigilance is the price of success in the eradication of weeds. Plantain is best removed during July and August by pulling, while in the case of dandelions, frequent deep cuttings with a knife or spade will prove effective. A drop or two of sulfuric acid injected into the crown with the point of an ice pick, will obviate this necessity. Spraying with iron sulfate solution (2 lbs. per gallon of water) or a reliable commercial chemical weed killer, has given good results. At no time should weeds be permitted to go to seed. It will be found helpful to fertilizer and reseed spots made bare by weed removal.

BULLETIN OF IMMEDIATE
INFORMATION No. 49

JUNE 30, 1925

Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

New Haven, Connecticut

REGULATIONS FOR CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW CONCERNING CONCENTRATED COMMERCIAL FEEDING STUFFS.

By the authority of Section 6 of the Act Concerning Concentrated Commercial Feeding Stuffs, Chapter 196, Public Acts of 1925, the following regulations have been adopted for carrying out the provisions of the act. The sections cited under cach regulation refer to sections of the law wherein the term defined, or the clause interpreted, occurs.

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REGULATION 1. FEEDS NOT CLASSED AS CONCENTRATED COMMERCIAL FEEDING STUFFs.

(Section 1.)

It is held that the law exempts from classification as concentrated commercial feeding stuffs (1) roughages such as hays, straws, corn stover, ensilage and all materials containing over 60 per cent of water; (2) whole grains; (3) meals made from whole grains when not mixed with other materials or with each other; (4) feed ground from whole grains and sold directly from the manufacturer to the consumer; (5) feed ground from materials furnished by the consumer; or (6) feed mixed according to a formula furnished by the consumer, for his own use.

REGULATION 2. METHOD OF LABELLING.

(Section 2.)

All concentrated commercial feeding stuffs must be labelled either by a statement printed on the bag or upon a properly attached tag; except that in the case of cottonseed meal sold for fertilizer, or of any concentrated feeding stuff sold in bulk, a certificate which shall contain the information otherwise required to appear upon the bag or upon the tag, may be issued by the dealer in lieu thereof.

The use of wire or any metal in affixing tags is prohibited by law.

REGULATION 3. FORM OF LABEL.
(Section 2.)

The law requires a statement of (1) the net weight of the feed contained in the package; (2) the name, brand or trademark under which the feed is sold; (3) name and address of the manufacturer or importer; (4) the minimum percentages of (a) crude protein and (b) crude fat, and the maximum percentage of (c) crude fiber contained in the feed; and (5) the separate ingredients of which the feed is composed.

While the law requires only a statement of the items enumerated above no objection will be raised to more complete statements of chemical composition.

REGULATION 4. DUTIES OF MANUFACTURERS, JOBBERS AND DEALERS WITH REFERENCE TO REGISTRATION.

(Section 3.)

The law requires all concentrated commercial feeding stuffs to be registered with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station on or before September 1st, 1925 and annually thereafter.

Manufacturers, jobbers or individuals shipping feeds into Connecticut will be expected to register their brands and pay the necessary fees thereon. Connecticut dealers should assure themselves that the brands they handle are properly registered. In case the manufacturer or jobber outside the State neglects or refuses to register, the dealer who handles such feeds will be held responsible for such registrations and registration fees.

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