During the past several years, pre-emergence herbicides for crabgrass control in turf have come into prominence. Some herbicides are relatively new; others, such as lead arsenate, calcium arsenate, and chlordane, have been used as herbicides for a number of years. Research workers have included the old as well as the newer herbicides in experiments under controlled conditions to determine their effectiveness as pre-emergence herbicides. However, information on the effect of these herbicides on the germination and growth of turfgrass species is limited. Application of lead arsenate as orchard sprays over the years had a toxic effect on the soil after the orchards had been removed and the areas planted to other crops due to arsenic accumulation. The poor condition of young alfalfa and barley in the affected fields was roughly proportional to the concentration of readily soluble arsenic in the surface soil.