LAWNS AND GRASSES. 



LAWNS AND GRASSES. 



BY L. DURAND, DEnBY, CT. 



Ik my article in the May number of the Horticulturist, on " Cultivation of Grasses," 

 I made a few closing remarks on Lawns, and their management. Since writing the 

 article in question, I have thought something more definite might be said on the 

 subject, to advantage. 



Lawns connected with country houses will vary in extent from half an acre to 

 several acres, as the case may be, although, in this country of "land saving," there 

 will be very little danger of getting the lawn too large, even if it should include twenty, 

 thirty, or forty acres in extent. Where the house and farm buildings can stand near 

 the central point of the lawn, it will be better if it has a high and commanding aspect; 

 however, that must depend on circumstances, as the highest point on the lawn will be 

 the best for the buildings to stand upon, whether that be upon one side or central. 

 It will be well, where the builder is designing a new place for a residence, to select a 

 point near or in the midst of a belt or grove of forest trees. This he will find to be a 

 great advantage over building on an open place where he has got to wait a short life 

 time for small trees to grow up to make shade. In such cases, however, of barren 

 points, some trees of a large growth should be immediately transplanted about the 

 buildings. 



As to the general management of lawns, it must vary according to the size, situa- 

 tion, circumstances of the owner, <fec. Of course the general design of a lawn is to 

 remain in permanent grass and growing trees. And in the first place, whatever the 

 size of the lawn, whether it be one acre or twenty, we would have but one outside 

 fence or enclosure. All cross sections of fences have a bad look and spoils the pros- 

 pect. Wire or iron fences are the most substantial, look the best, and are the cheapest 

 for a life time, that can be built. 



The laying out and preparing a lawn for seeding down to grass, requires a great 

 deal of labor and judgment to have it well done. The land should be plowed deep, 

 subsoiled, and well pulverized ; the surfjice should be made smooth with a fine tooth 

 harrow and rakes. By this, we do not mean to pull down natural hills or conical 

 knolls, to fill up a natural valley or ravine. We should much prefer to have the land 

 remain in its natural state as to form of surface or position. The kinds of grass seed 

 to be sown should be a mixture of Red Top, Kentucky Blue Grass, and AVhite Clover, 

 sown with a liberal hand, and this to be covered with a fine tooth harrow or hand 

 rake, and the whole surface to be made smooth by the roller. 



AVhere lawns are only an acre or so in extent, the after-cultivation can be done by 

 shearing, or mowing with a " lawn scythe." This tool can be had at any of the 

 "implement stores," and in the hands of a competent man good work can be done. 

 But mowing a swath with the ordinary scythe is one thing, and cutting or shearing 

 a "lawn scythe" is another business altogether. The grass should be cut once 

 ice a month through the growing season, and it should be cut even and 



