1870.] HINTS ON GARDEN LAWNS, &c. 227 



conservatory, however, should be kept moderately warm, by way of 

 giving the plants every encouragement. 



As a garnishing for dessert, I have found the coloured bracts of the 

 Poinsettia very useful indeed, especially when laid on a few Fern fronds 

 round a dish of fruit. William Biggs. 



Sandfield Park. 



HINTS on the Formation and Improvement of Garden Lawns, 

 Croquet-Grounds, Cricket- Grounds, &c. 



A good close velvety turf i8 one of the most ornamental objects dressed 

 ground can boast of, and oftentimes the most difficult to obtain. The following 

 suggestions, based on many years' practical experience, are therefore offered. 



In the first place, careful preparation of the ground proposed to be laid down 

 to turf is necessary. This should be commenced in the winter by draining, if 

 found requisite, and digging to the depth of 6 to 12 inches, according to the 

 nature of the soil. When this has been done, the land should be levelled and 

 made firm with a spade, and subsequently raked, to remove stones, &c. Should 

 the natural soil be too stony, it will be advisable to procure a supply of good mould, 

 and spread this over the land to the depth of 2 or 3 inches. If the soil is poor, 

 some well-rotted stable-dung will be very beneficial. Where this cannot be 

 obtained, we would advise, as the best dressing of artificial manure, 2 cwt. of super- 

 phosphate of lime and 1 cwt. of Peruvian guano per acre. In March, after the 

 ground has been made thoroughly fine and clean, a heavy iron roller should be 

 used to make it perfectly level ; and as the subsequent appearance of the lawn 

 depends in a great measure on this part of the preparation, we cannot too strongly 

 urge the importance of its being well done. The ground should then be evenly 

 raked and the seed sown. April and September are the best months for sowing. 

 As to the sorts of seeds suitable for garden lawns, &c. , we can, after a long course 

 of personal observation of the numerous kinds which have come under our notice, 

 confidently recommend the following varieties as most certain to produce a close 

 velvety turf : — 



Cynosurus cristatus, Crested Dogstail. 



Festuca ovina, Sheep's Fescue. 



Festucatenuifolia, Fine-leaved Fescue. 



Lolium perenne Suttoni, Suttons' 

 Dwarf Perennial Rye-Grass. 



Poa pratensis, Smooth-stalked Mea- 

 dow- Grass. 



Poa sempervirens, Evergreen ditto. 



Poa nemoralis, Woodside Meadow- 

 Grass. 



Medicago lupulina, Yellow Trefoil. 



Lotus corniculatus, Birdsfoot Tre- 

 foil. 



Trifolium repens perenne, Perennial 

 White Clover. 



Trifolium minus, Yellow Suckling. 



These should be mixed in their proper proportions, and sown at the rate of 3 

 bushels or 60 lb. per acre (English), or 1 gallon to 6 rods or perches. 



After the sowing has been accomplished, the ground should be again rolled, 

 and as soon as the young plants have attained the height of 2 or 3 inches, the 

 whole plot should be carefully gone over with a sharp scythe. Frequent mowing 

 and rolling are indispensable to maintain the turf in good order. By adopting 

 these means, a close greensward will be obtained in nearly as short a time as a 



