382 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



retentive of moisture and also improvinc: its texture. If this can be 

 used, a lieavy dressing should be applied. A ton to two thousand square 

 feet would not be too heavy. 



Chemical fertilizers may be used to advantage after the grass is well 

 started but should never be ai)plicd at the seeding time as it may kill 

 the young roots which come in contact with it during germination. It 

 must be remend)ered also, in using commercial fertilizers that they 

 never improve the physical condition of the soil. There is no humus 

 added to the soil by their use and hence the soil texture is not improved. 

 It is simply an addition of the essential food elements and should 

 always be regarded as such. It is easily applied, contains no weed seeds 

 and may be readily obtained. 



Some of the most desirable forms of chemical fertilizers for lawns are 

 fine ground bone, wood ashes, and the high grade forms of complete 

 fertilizers, (iround bone is a very good form of fertilizer for lawns and 

 although it contains principally phosphoric acid, it furnishes some 

 nitrogen and lime. Unleached hardwood ashes is used as a source of 

 potash and if a]>plied each s[)ring soon after growth begins, will generally 

 prove Acry beneticial. Complete high grade fertilizers for lawns may 

 be obtained from almost any fertilizer dealer and, while more expensive 

 than the other forms, they are often (juite efticient in maintaining the 

 lawn. 



Although the amount of fertilizer advisable to apply will depend much 

 upon the condition of the soil as wiell as upon the form and strength of 

 the fertilizer to be used, a dressing of about 2.5 ])ounds per hundred 

 scpiare feet would be a moderate application under average conditions. 



VARIETIES OF GR^^SS FOR LAWNS. 



The best variety of grass for lawns, under general conditions in ^lich- 

 igan, is Kentucky bluegi'ass (Poa prafensis). While it is rather slow 

 in starting, it produces a permanent lawn of fine texture and of a rich 

 green color. The crown of the plants set very close to the ground thus 

 permitting close clipping and the plant, after becoming established, 

 sjireads ra[)idly by underground roots. 



Although a permanent Iduegrass lawn may be desired, it is often ad- 

 visable to sow other varieties with the bluegrass seed. Of the ra])id 

 growing grasses that may be used for this purpose, the English rye 

 grass {Lolium pcr&nne var. tenuc) is one of the best. It is an annual 

 grass and a little coarse in leaf, but starts rapidly. ])roduces a very 

 early elTect and covers the ground which might otherwi.^e be occupied 

 by weeds. Do not use oats, rj'e or timothy for this purpose. 



Redtop {Af/rofitis olha) is a quick growing grass which produces a 

 good lawn effect the first season. It is of a finer texture than rye grass 

 but does not grow quite as raj)idly on the start. It gro^^>; better under 

 adverse soil and moisture conditions than most other grasses. 



White clover (Trifoh'um alha) is frequently used on lawns as many 

 jieople desire the appeai-ance of the white clover blossoms in the summer. 

 Others <»bj<'ct t(» ils tendency of giving the lawn a spotted efiVct. 



On a very sandy soil the Rhode I.sland Bent grass (Afjrostis conina) 

 does well, while in very shady places the Woctdland "Meaclow grass (Poa 

 nenioralifi) mar be used. M'here the lawn is f»ii high, dry situations or 

 slopes the Sheeps fescue (Pistuca orino) will be found desirable, while 



