LANDRETHS’ GRASS SEED IS SOLD ONLY UNDER SEAL 
65 
Landreths’ Grasses of Proven Quality 
A Small Lawn of Bent Grass 
The Secret of Producing Velvet Turf 
It is just as natural for grass to grow on a lawn as it is for hair to grow on a head. In both cases, 
however, certain conditions may destroy or prevent the growth. 
How can I obtain a velvet turf? This question is asked every seedsman thousands of times every year. 
First of all, know something about your soil. Litmus or Litmus paper may be obtained in small quantities 
from most druggists. Allow this liquid or paper to come in contact with your soil in various parts of the 
lawn. If it turns very blue, then it is too alkaline and should have a fertilizer to control this condition. 
If it turns very red it is too acidic and should have lime applied. Provided it remains about the same color, 
of course there is little to fear, although a slightly acidic soil is desirable. Too sweet or alkaline soil tends 
to produce clover and weeds. If you have difficulty ascertaining the condition of your soil, your seed dealer 
will be glad to aid you. If the local seedsman cannot help, mail a small sample of your soil to D. Landreth 
Seed Company or your State Experimental Station. We urge the use of Arsenate of Lead on lawns which 
are located in the Japanese Beetle area. This is important as no matter how good the seed may be, your 
grass cannot thrive on grub infested soil. 
Level the ground as best you can and if planting in Spring or Summer wait two weeks before sowing 
seed in order that some of the weeds may start to grow. These should then be dug out. This delay is not 
necessary in Fall planting, as there is little to fear from weeds at that time. 
On the next page may be found the correct mixtures for use under certain conditions. To plant an 
ordinary lawn mixture in the shade is like running your automobile on kerosene. The car may run for a 
short time or perhaps not at all. Landreth Shady Place is really different from the other mixtures and 
actually contains the grasses which you see growing under the trees in a wild state in almost every pasture. 
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has issued special formulas for shade and other unusual condi¬ 
tions, as have many other institutions in various sections of the country. Ask your seed dealer to write 
the D. Landreth Seed Company for special mixtures for your particular conditions if you do not see what 
you want listed in this catalog. We have hundreds of formulas known to be good and we can enable you 
to grow grass where many fail. 
Sow the seed evenly, allowing 100 to 125 pounds per acre for best results, or about one pound for 300 
square feet. In renovating lawns as much seed need not be used. When watering during the Summer 
months be sure to soak the ground and do not sprinkle as this tends to bring the roots to the surface. 
Landreths’ Grass Seeds are tested by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for purity and germina¬ 
tion. They are field-tested on our Bloomsdale Experimental Farm at Bristol, Pennsylvania, and are im¬ 
ported from the finest growing districts in the United States and abroad. 
