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Telephone Opelika 695-J 
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that they will live or grow after they leave our hands. 
ne case a greater price 
All quotations are for immediate acceptance. No liability to us should stock be sold upom receipt of order or injury from frost or hail, also, should 
steikes or other causes prevent delivery. 
Telephone Auburn 134-R 
iM y 
King’s Nursery 
Growers of 
ZOYSIA MATRELLA GRASS 
TREES, SHRUBS AND EVERGREENS 
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 
BOX 63 
AUBURN, ALABAMA 
Located on the Opelika-Auburn Highway 

Reprinted from The Birmingham News-Age-Herald 

New Shady Lawn 
Grass Gives Great 
Promise For South 
By W. ELBRIDGE FREEBORN 
The Birmingham News-Age-Herald Garden Editor 
RECENTLY A GREAT MANY EXPERIMENTS HAVE 
BEEN CARRIED ON WITH ZOYSIA MATRELLA, OR 
MANILA GRASS, and we are very enthusiastic about 
the possibilities this holds for shady lawns in this sec- 
tion of the South. 
We have deliberately chosen this time of the year to 
write about this grass for since it is in the experimental 
stage we do not want our readers to leap in too enthusi- 
astically for perhaps we are too enthusiastic ourselves 
and it may not prove as successful as we believe it will, 
A little history may be interesting. This grass was in- 
troduced from the Orient by the United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture and samples were sent to many of 
the seed experiment stations. Among others a sample 
was sent to the Georgia Experiment Station located at 
Experiment, Georgia, and one to the Alabama Experi- 
ment Station located at Auburn, Alabama. 
An unusual amount of work was carried on by the ex- 
periment station at Auburn, Ala., by Dr, D. G. Sturkie, 
and much enthusiasm and a great deal of work was also 
carried on there by T. C. King, an Auburn, Ala., nursery- 
man, It might be wise to quote a description of this 
grass as given by Dr. D. C. Sturkie in a recent bulletin 
issued by the Alabama Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala., 
in which he says that Zoysia grass is “undoubtedly the 
best lawn grass that has been found for Alabama.” 
He further says “Zoysia grass has a fine leaf, is dark- 
green in color, produces a dense sod which feels like a 
rug, and does not get as weedy as does Bermuda grass. 
It is one of the earliest grasses to begin growth in the 
Spring and is one of the last ones to die in the Fall. It 
is green much longer than Bermuda grass (nine to ten 
months of the year in Central Alabama). It grows only 
three or four inches tall, does not have to be mowed 
often and will grow under trees very satisfactorily. It 
has stood more dense shade than any other grass test- 
ed at the Alabama Experiment Station. It will also 
thrive in the hottest sun. 
“Of course, like all plants, Zoysia grass has some 
weaknesses. The two major faults to be found with this 
grass are that it grows very slowly and there is no 
source of seed supply at the present time. From the sod 
it requires about two years to get a good lawn; under the 
same conditions Bermuda grass will produce one in two 
months, 
“CAUTION—This is not the same grass as the one sold 
under the name of Korean lawn grass (Zoysia japon- 
ica), the seed of which is available.” 
Last summer when we first saw this grass at the Ex- 
periment Station, located at Auburn, Ala., we became 
very enthusiastic. However, we were even more en- 
thusiastic after we had seen several lawns in the city 
of Auburn where this grass was seen growing under 
Chinese elms, black walnut, pear trees, water oaks, and 
in the full sun. Later, at Experiment, Ga., Dr. 
Stuckey showed us their experiments, among others, one 
planted in very dense shade beneath very large, old oaks, 
The next planting that we saw was on First Avenue in 
Birmingham, Ala., growing on very poor soil, beneath 
one large black walnut tree, This was one of the 
prettiest lawns we have ever seen, The lawn was 100 
per cent weedless, 
We have also been in correspondence with people who 
have found it satisfactory in Louisville, Ky., and Coral 
Gables, Fla. 
We find that Homer S. Fisher, extension landscape 
gardener, Auburn, Ala., has prepared some directions 
for its culture, and we quote: 
“Deep and thorough preparation of the soil is neces- 
sary in establishing a good lawn of Zoysia as is the case 
with other lawn grasses. Since Zoysia requires a good 
fertile soil for best growth, about five to 10 pounds of 
6-8-4 fertilizer to each 100 square feet should be worked 
into the soil in the preparation. 
Since no seed are available, Zoysia must be estab- 
lished by vegetative means, It can be propagated by 
small squares of the grass or by sprigs, These should 
be set about 12 inches apart in squares, being careful 
to leave the leaves of the grass above the ground, as the 
plants will not grow from underneath the soil. The 
plants should be firmly set and the area rolled and wa- 
tered. It is necessary to give Zoysia protection from 
more rapidly growing weeds and grasses until it be- 
comes established. 
“Since Zoysia is slow in spreading, it may be advis- 
able to plant some other grass for coverage of the lawn 
area while the Zoysia is becoming established. Ken- 
tucky blue grass may be used if the Zoysia is planted in 
the Fall and Bermuda grass may be used with Spring 
plantings. It is essential that these grasses be kept 
mowed regularly so that the Zoysia will eventually 
crowd them out. 
“Zoysia may be planted at most any time during the 
year if moisture conditions are suitable or if water is 
available. Under most conditions, best results are ob- 
aed by setting it in March or early April or in Oct- 
tober. 
“After Zoysia is dug, it should be kept moist, and it 
should be kept in the shade as much as possible until 
set. 
“MOWING—After the Zoysia lawn is established, al- 
low the grass to grow for some time—to a height of 
about three inches before clipping. After the grass has 
reached this height it should be mowed regularly with 
the mower set high until the grass is well established. 
Unless other grass such as Bermuda or Kentucky blue- 
grass is used with the Zoysia very little mowing will be 
required. However,as stated previously, a better sod 
and more attractive appearance will result from con- 
tinued mowing, This will also help Zoysia to over- 
come competition, 
“WATERING—Zoysia grass lawns should be watered 
thoroughly once or twice a week during dry seasons 
until the grass is well established. Once a good sod is 
established very little watering will be needed. By 
planting this grass during wet seasons, it has been es- 
tablished and maintained without any artificial water- 
ing. 
“FERTILIZING—A good program for fertilizing a 
Zoysia grass lawn is to start early in the Spring with an 
application of 6-8-4 or 4-10-7 at the rate of one pound 
for each 100 square feet and repeat this application at 
intervals of four to six weeks.” 
You will notice that mention is made above that no 
seeds are available and that Zoysia matrella must be 
established by vegetative means. While this is true, we 
have found from Dr. John Monteith, Jr., United States 
Golf Association, green section, Washington, D. C.; M. A. 
Hein, Agronomist, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bu- 
reau of Plant Industry, Tifton, Ga., that this variety has 
produced a limited amount of seed at Tifton and at Ar- 
lington, Md., but that to date no method has been found 
of seed production in commercial quantities, 
ec espero cepa sees CS Si set ESSE SC DS TL 
be allowed for any plant replaced than 
GUARANTEE—We oxercise every care te see that our products are handled in a manner that will keep them fresh and alive; we cannot guarantee 
Any plant which proves to be something other than what it is sold for, will be replaced, but im 
