26 Kilgore’s Lawn Grasses are Especially Adapted to Florida Conditions 
Italian Rye Grass 
FLORIDA’S WINTER BLUE GRASS 
Sow 250 to 300 Pounds Per Acre 
or 6 to 8 Pounds Per 1000 Square Feet 
This is a most valuable and desirable fall and 
winter grass for Florida, but it does not make 
a permanent lawn. It dies out as soon as warm 
weather of late spring and early summer comes 
on. However, for quick covering of lawns and 
golf courses in winter it is unsurpassed. Do not 
plant in Florida before October or later than 
March. It will make a vigorous, luxuriant 
growth throughout the fall, winter and early 
spring but must have plenty of water. A com- 
mon practice in Florida is to seed Italian Rye 
grass on other brown lawns or in brown un- 
sightly spots of old lawns in the fall and winter 
for a velvety green all-winter lawn. Plant 14 lb. 
to 100 square feet right on top of old lawn 
after loosening the surface soil. Keep soil moist 
until seed sprouts. 
1 Ib. 50c; 10 Ibs. $1.75; 25 Ibs. $3.75; 
100 Ibs. $14.50 
Carpet Grass 
Sow 100 to 150 Pounds Per Acre 
or 2 to 4 Pounds Per 1000 Square Feet 
Carpet grass is particularly well adapted to 
low moist soils and does not require much fer- 
tilization, but needs plenty of moisture. This 
grass is not suited to drouthy conditions or to 
sweet soils high in Ph. It turns brown in the 
winter, is not at all salt tolerant nor will it stand 
much shade. Keep mowed to a height of 2 
inches. Plant in the spring from March to July, 
or in fall from October to December. For lawns 
and golf courses use 2 to 4 lbs. of seed per 1000 
sq. feet. 
1 Ib. 85c; 10 Ibs. $5.00; 25 Ibs. $12.00; 
100 Ibs. $47.50 
Bitter Blue-stemmed 
St. Augustine Grass 
Use one bushel of sprigs per 200 to 300 
square feet. 
This is one of the most popular lawn grasses 
for Florida. It is quick to establish, rather coarse 
in texture, but easy to mow, and remains green 
the year around. It should be cut at a height of 
2 inches. Severe cutting back is quite harmful. 
It should be fertilized two or three times a year 
at the rate of 20 pounds per 1000 square feet 
with a complete fertilizer such as Vigoro or 
Vertagreen. St. Augustine is our best shade grass 
and will grow on alkaline as well as slightly acid 
soils. It is very salt tolerant and can be grown 
along the beaches where a good soil base is pro- 
vided. It can be grown by vegetative propaga- 
tion only. Sprigs should be planted in well 
prepared soil, setting about 6x9 inches apart. 
For chinch bug control in St. Augustine lawns 
see page 28. 
BITTER BLUESTEMMED ST. AUGUSTINE 
GRASS—SPRIGS OR ROOTS 
1 bu. $2.50; 5 bu. $2.40 per bu.; 
10 bu. $2.25 per bu. 
Not prepaid. Available April to November. 
Shipped only by express direct from the Florida 
Nursery. 
Centipede Grass 
Use one bushel of sprigs per 300 to 400 square 
feet. Sow 3 ounces seed per 1000 square feet. 
This is considered the best low maintenance 
grass for Florida. It is adapted to a wide range 
of soils including high sand hills, and will tol- 
erate infertile acid soils, can get by on a mini- 
mum of fertilizer and water, and is relatively 
free of insect pests and diseases. It will not do 
at all well on alkaline or sweet soils but makes 
best growth on acid soils. A light spring and/ 
or fall application of a complete fertilizer such 
as Vigoro or Vertagreen—10 to 15 pounds per 
1000 square feet, should be sufficient for best 
results. Do not over-fertilize. The fertilizer 
should be watered in. In periods of extended 
drouth a thorough watering every 5 to 7 days 
should be sufficient, wetting the soil 4 to 6 inches 
deep each time. It is quick to establish and easy 
to mow to a height of 114 inches. However, it 
turns brown during the winter, does not toler- 
ate shade and salt spray as well as St. Augustine, 
and does not grow well in alkaline soils or in 
dense shade. Can be grown by vegetative repro- 
duction (sprigs) or from seed. 
Seed production is limited as yet, and the 
cost of seed is quite high, but it is recommended 
for relatively small areas. A good seedbed should 
be prepared and fertilized prior to planting. 
Mix the proper amount of seed for a given area 
with dry sand (3 oz. seed per gallon of sand) 
to facilitate uniform planting. Cover seed light- 
ly, not over 14 to 4 inch with a rake. If soil is 
sandy, it must be packed firmly over the seed 
and kept moist to get a good stand. 
The seedbed must be kept moist until germina- 
tion is secured, and the seedlings have become 
established. Centipede grass seed germinates 
quicker and better in warm rainy weather of 
spring than in dry cold weather conditions of 
late fall and winter when it may take one or 
two months for seed to germinate. Centipede 
established from seed will not differ from that 
established from sprigs. 
Centipede sprigs or root runners 3 to 5 inches 
long should be planted in rows 10 to 12 inches 
apart, 4 to 5 inches apart in the rows. Insert 
sprigs in the ground, leaving about an inch 
showing. Cover with soil immediately to pre- 
vent drying out. Give frequent watering until 
plants are rooted firmly. 
CENTIPEDE GRASS SEED 
1 oz. $1.15; 1% Ib. $4.25; 2 Ib. $8.00; 
1 Ib. $15.00 Postpaid 
CENTIPEDE GRASS SPRIGS OR ROOTS 
1 bu. $2.25; 5 bu. $2.15 per bu.; 
10 bu. $2.00 per bu. 
Not prepaid. Available April to Nov. Shipped 
only by express direct from a Florida nursery. 
Write Mail Order Department, Kilgore Seed Co., 
Plant City, Fla., for instructive folder on “Centipede 
Grass Lawns.” 
For further information on Florida lawns write the Mailing Department, Florida Agricultural Experiment 
Station, Gainesville, Fla., for a free copy of Bulletin 118 entitled “Lawns in Florida.” 
