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21 
Landreths’ GRASSES of Proven QuaTity 
llth Hole—Spring Mill Course, Philadelphia Country Club, Scene of the 
1939 National Open Tournament 
The Secret of Producing Velvet Turf 
H OW can I obtain a velvet turf? This question is asked every seedsman thousands of times a 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 acid and should have lime applied. Provided it remains about 
the same color, of course there is little to fear, although a slightly acid soil is desirable. 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 sod. As an 
all purpose fertilizer for lawns we recommend our LANDGRO Brand which affords the plants a complete meal. 
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. 
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. 
Sow the seed evenly, allowing 125 to 150 pounds per acre for best results, or about one pound for 200 
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. Do not cut 
new grass (with the exception of Creeping Bent) until it is 2 inches in length and established lawns do best at 
1 \ inches. Landreths’ Grass Seeds are tested by government agencies or approved laboratories for purity and 
germination. They are field-tested on our Bloomsdale Experimental Farm at Bristol, Pennsylvania, and 
are imported from the finest growing districts in the United States and abroad. 
On page 22 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 conditions, 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. _ .. . . _ _ _ _ . _ . _ , 
Quality Seed Deserves a Carefully Prepared Seed Bed 
