146 DEPARTMENT REPORTS 



— It has been stated that seeds which have been soaked in water a few hours and 

 then dried give earlier plants than those which have not received treatment. 

 Acting upon this report, a lot of radish and lettuce seeds were put in water 

 August 2. After sixteen hours the seeds were dried in the sun six hours, and 

 then sown in a cold frame, other seeds from the same packets which had not 

 been treated being sown alongside at the same time. At six P. M. August 5, 

 both lots of radish were well up, but the plants from soaked seeds were 

 larger. At the same time the lettuce from the soaked seeds was up, while 

 that from the other seeds was but slightly up at seven o'clock the next morn- 

 ing, August 6. But although the plants from soaked seeds were ahead at 

 the start, they did not maintain their advantage. There was no difference 

 whatever in the time of maturing of the lots of either vegetable. The let- 

 tuce was pricked out into a spent hot bed some forty feet in length, filling it 

 compactly, but there was perfect uniformity in the ripening of both lots. 



8. What do we get in lawn gkass seed? — The so-called lawn grass 

 mixtures, sold at exorbitant prices, are not to be relied upon. Often the 

 selection of grasses contained in them is not desii'able, and they are especially 

 liable to contain the seeds of weeds. The following weeds came from a 

 sowing of one of these fancy mixtures: Ox-eye daisy, two foreign species of 

 chess (Bromus mollis and H. asper), awned plantatin (Plantago Patagonica 

 var. aristata), Hypochceris radicata. May-weed, spurrey (Spergularia arven- 

 sis), Agrostis spica-venti, perennial rye grass, and other valueless grasses. 

 Many common weeds came up in the lawn, which was supposed to be clean 

 ground, and a part of them, at least, were probably sown with the grass 

 seed. My advice to those who contemplate making lawns is to buy pure 

 June grass seed, and to sow it very early in spring — in March or early April 

 or in the fall. June grass seed can be procured of seed dealers for about 

 $1.25 per bushel. The fancy mixtures cost four and five dollars per bushel, 

 and are not so good as the June grass. Do not sow grain of any sort with 

 the June grass. Prepare the soil thoroughly, fertilize it well if it is not 

 strong, and sow the seed at the rate of two or three bushels per acre. If 

 the seed is sown thus thickly the grass will soon cover the surface and choke 

 out weeds, and a multitude of small stalks will be produced instead of a 

 few large ones. 



9. Trees as shrubs. — Many trees may be cut off near the ground after 

 they have obtained a good start, when they will throw up a mass of vigor- 

 ous shoots which answer all the purposes of shrubs. In this manner one 

 may add greatly to the variety and attractiveness of his shrubbery, if the 

 practice is not carried too far. Such clumps always present a novel appear- 

 ance. They are vigorous, clean, shapely. The sprouts may be cut back 

 nearly to the ground every two or three years, allowing new ones to spring 

 up, thus maintaining the desired size of growth. Most of our rapid growing 

 forest trees are excellent for this purpose upon large lawns. We have good 

 specimens of white ash, basswood, the European field maple (Acer cam2)est7'e), 

 and others, grown in this way. The principle can also be applied to the 

 growing of coppices upon large grounds, or about borders. For such 

 purposes the beech and the oaks are preferable. 



Many trees and shrubs are more attractive when grown in this way than 

 when allowed to assume their ordinary forms. Examples of such are the 

 ailanthus and the sumacs. The ordinary wild, smooth sumac {Rhus glabra) 

 is one of the finest of decorative shrubs when grown in this manner. 



