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Lawns require rest, and should also, where the ground is not rich in 

 plant food, be supplied with manure in the form of a top dressing. 

 Liberal applications of liquid manure are also good, but as the posi- 

 tion of most lawns forbid the use of such material, the top dressing is 

 the best way of supplying nutriment to the grass roots. Unless the 

 grass plants on a lawn are in good health and vigorous in constitution 

 it cannot be expected that they can withstand the constant cutting, 

 trampling and rolling they are subject to, where regular play is the 

 rule. Therefore players who Avish to maintain their lawns in first 

 rate order, should arrange for a " close season" of at least three 

 months each year, during which the grass should be allowed to grow 

 and strengthen itself for the fight it has to undergo during the 

 remaining months of the year. It is quite true at the same time that 

 by only playing at intervals a grass court can be maintained in fair 

 order ; but to secure this it is absolutely essential that it should not 

 be cut too frequently. The top dressing for a tennis court should be 

 prepared as follows : — Mix equal parts of finely sifted Avood ashes, 

 leaf mould, and good " top-spit" from pasture land Avell together, 

 adding a good dressing of finely pulverized sulphate of ammonia to 

 the heap (say at the rate of four cwt. to the acre) Avhich should be 

 turned at intervals of about 12 hours for three days previous to use. 

 In applying the mixture place it in small and regular heaps at a time 

 when the grass has been cut short. These heaps should be then 

 raked down and the ground well watered. After the application the 

 grass should be allowed to grow, in fact, the application should be 

 made during the resting season. Smaller applications may however be 

 made during the season, whenever a week or ten days' rest can be 

 secured. The ground should be covered to a depth of one, two, or 

 even three inches with the top dressing, and the grass should be 

 alloAved to grow through. When this is seen to be the case, the plot 

 shoiild be well rolled to make it firm, but afterAvards, until the ground 

 is again required for play, the use of the roller should be dispensed 

 with. The application of a weak solution of sulphate of ammonia at 

 intervals during the season is also recommended, as it not only 

 strengthens the grass, but is also disliked by the mole cricket, as it 

 has been found that mole crickets are present in smaller numbers 

 after its application. If laAvns are top-dressed in this Avay once a 

 year and a resting season given, they can be maintained in a much 

 better manner than under other conditions. It is Avell known tliat in 

 some few places lawns exist, on Avhich continuous cutting and 

 trampling appear to have little effect, but if they are carefully 



