La Junta tribune., 1914-10-10
REMEDY FOR CRAB GRASS.
Hard Work ID the Only Thing That
win Eradicate Crab Grass-
How to DO IL.

VIII Eradicate Crab 0rass-
How to DO Il.
Many fine lawns In La Junta are
being ruined by what Is commonly
known as crab grass Property
owners who have spent years In de-
veloping fine lawn become faint
hearted when they contemplate the
havoc that has been wrought by this
crab grass pest, and wonder whether
the effort to maintain q lawn and
make home surroundings a thing Of
beauty and Joy forever. is worth
the expenditure Of time. labor and
money that seems to be necessary.
Last week the editor Of the great
family journal. who Is among those
afflicted with the crab grass pest.
indited q pleading and prayerful
epistle to the grass expert" Of the
State Agricultural College at Fort
Collins In an effort to find out II
there was any remedy for crab
grass" Every home made remedy
known to any Of our local experts.
even to plowinG up the lawn and
commencing al over again. was
tried. without avail. Tho remedy
recommended by the botany depart
ment Of the State Agricultural Col
lege. however. IL . new one. and We
have already started upon the task
Of giving II tryout-with what sue
cess will be apparent when the crab
grass season opens in August next.
All the plans and specifications arc
given In the Illuminating letter be-
low written by W. w. Robbins. pro-
fessor Of botany. Of the State AEri-
cultural ColleGe, and we hope those
in La Junta who are afflicted with
the "crab grass pest" will act upon
the suggestions. and give the remedy
n thorough try out. The letter is us
follows:
Your letter OF the 2sth and grass
specimen have bssn referred to the
Botany Department.
The grass that In causing trouble
In the lawns OF La Junta . common
" known % "crAb grass.' This
Zueee aonlcl, - eql1iyaAeA !, Z waats
places. particularly lawh5. t6fUuyas
out North America. Il II natural
lied from Europe. II comes at this
season Of the year In poorly estab-
Hshcd or poorly kept lawns. its ap-
pearance being marked by dead.
brownish patches which vary In size
from isolated clumps to areas limit
ed In size only by the lawn itself.
II gains entrance along with grass
seed. The best Of this may have
slight impurities. II also may have
In along with stable manures that
carry weed seed or the seed may be
blown In from neiGhborinG waste
places. The plant Ii flat against the
ground 10 that the lawn mower pass
81 over II without doing Il much
harm. Even the Sod heads are un-
touched BY the lawn mower.
Crab grass IL an annual. that II.
Il dies down each year At frost time.
Il propagates BY means Of SEED
alone. thus making its eradication .
moro simple matter than II II repro
ducsd By means Of underground
stalks. - does the common blue
grass. Being an annual. one knows
that At the end Of the growing sea-
son all Of the crab grass is gone from
the lawn except the sssds.
Crab grass gets ahead In lawns
that are IN poor condition or lack
visor. becoming started In the bare
spaces or where the grass cover 10
thin. There are many reasons for
the failure Of lawn. either In whole
or In part--lack Of water. poor soll.
poor drainage. low grade Of seed.
thin seeding. irregular moving. and
lack Of fertilissr. One or more Of
thess conditions may permit crab
grass and other weeds 70 get . hold.
Nothins 10 quits % important for .
laws % ~ abundance Of water.
Again ths lawn should b seeded
with ~ best Of ssed. A select blue
grass sesd. vsishins slshtsa 70
twenty-five SQUADS Dsf bushsl. 10 A.
tss ail ~ ehsassse sost. One can -
csstaia Il will torn . dsnss, Vigorous
seas1. alnest satirsly frss from
weeds. TAs ee1inasy gss1s ee lawD
seed avssaess twelve - fifteen
SQUADS ~ bushsl asd ofesa carries
wee1 ~ h abundance. vurtAsr.
mere ~ seasl q grass non ~
Deee trale - ~ 1esks vioos aal
abe1lly ~ Tom . hsavy ~. 1t \
wol1 y ~ e eseeos1ve aneent q
soe1; feuP - me basAels ~ aege
- Aam~ u~s~ - -nwA~a> - 49,