A CHAPTER ON LAWNS. 



203 



lawn, whether of fifty acres or fifty feet 

 square, must provide himself against failure 

 by this gnnindwork of success. 



Little plats of ground are easily trenched 

 with the spade. Large lawn surfaces are 

 only to be managed (unless expense is not 

 a consideration,) with the subsoil plough. 

 With this grand developer of resources, 

 worked by two yoke of oxen, let the whole 

 area to be laid down be thoroughly moved 

 and broken up two feet deep. The autumn 

 or early winter is the best season for per- 

 forming this, because the surface will have 

 ample time to settle, and take a proper 

 shape before spring. 



After being ploughed, subsoiled and har- 

 rowed, let the whole surface be entirely 

 cleared of even the smallest stone. It is 

 quite impossible to mow a lawn well that is 

 not as smooth as ground can be made. Ma- 

 nure, if necessary, should be applied while 

 subsoiling. We say, if necessary, for if 

 the land is strong and in good heart, it is not 

 needed. The object in a lawn, it will be 

 remembered, is not to obtain a heavy crop 

 of hay, but simply to maintain perpetual 

 verdure. Rich soil would defeat our object 

 by causing a rank growth, and coarse stalks, 

 when we wish a short growth, and soft her- 

 bage. Let the soil, therefore, be good, but 

 not rich ; depth, and the power of retaining 

 moisture, are the truly needful qualities here. 

 If the land is very light and sandj^ (the 

 worst naturally,) we would therefore advise 

 a mixture of loam or clay; which indeed 

 subsoiling, when the substratum is heavy, 

 will often most readily effect. 



The soil, thus prepared, lies all winter to 

 mellow and settle, with the kindly influences 

 of the atmosphere and frost upon it. 



As early in the spring, as it is in friable 

 working condition, stir it lightly with the 

 plough and harrow, and make the surface 

 as smooth as possible — we do not mean 



level, for if the ground is not a flat, nothing 

 is so agreeable as gentle swells or undula- 

 tions. But quite smooth the surface must be- 



Now for the sowing ; and here a farmer 

 would advise you to " seed down with oats," 

 or some such established agricultural pre- 

 cept. Do not listen to him for a moment! 

 What you desire is a close turf, and therefore 

 sow nothing but grass ; and do not suppose 

 you are going to assist a weak growing plant 

 by sowing along with it a coarser growing 

 one to starve it. 



Choose, if possible, a calm day, and sow 

 your seed as evenly as you can. The seed 

 to be sown is a mixture of Red-top, {Agos- 

 tis vulgaris,) and White Clover {Tnfolium 

 7-epe?is,) which are hardy short grasses, 

 and on the whole make the best and most 

 enduring lawn for this climate.* The pro- 

 portion should be about three-fourths Red- 

 top to one-fourth White Clover. The seed 

 should be perfectly clean ; then sow four 

 bushels of it to the acre ; not a pint less as 

 you hope to walk upon velvet ! Finish the 

 whole by rolling the surface evenly and 

 neatly. 



A few soft vernal showers, and bright 

 sunny days, will show you a coat of ver- 

 dure bright as emerald. By the first of 

 June, you will find it necessary to look about 

 for your mower. 



And this reminds us to say a word about 

 a lawn scythe. You must not suppose, as 

 many ignorant people do, that a lawn can 

 be mown with a brush hook, or a common 

 meadow scythe for cutting hay in the fastest 

 possible manner. It can only be done with 

 a broad-bladed scythe, of the most perfect 

 temper and quality, which will hold an edge 

 like a razor. The easiest way to get such 

 an article is to inquire at any of the agricul- 

 tural warehouses in the great cities, for an 



* AVe learn ihf Bliie-prass of Koiiturky makes a fine lawn 

 at Uie west j but with this we have no experience. 



