1879.1 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



green through hot weather in our climate, as 

 this. It will form a dense mass in time, and so 

 thick that it will not let any other grass grow. 



Thirdly, though we say sow only Blue Grass, 

 pure and simple, we will emphasize it by adding, 

 avoid all "mixtures," all clover, and such 

 creeping things. All these easily burn out in 

 hot weather, and their only known use is some- 

 thing like that of Satan in human things, to keep 

 the world from becoming too good. These 

 things stiniggle with the good grass, and keep 

 it in check, but we do not want it checked. 



Fourthly, as to Crab Grass, that vile pest of 

 American lawns, it is hard work fighting it 

 when it once gets in, and the best way is still to 

 encourage its enemy, the Blue Grass, to fight it. 

 Sow Blue Grass among it, and when you mow, 

 leave the grass at each mowing as long as you 

 dare, without its looking untidy. Very close 

 cutting with a mower, is good luck to the Crab 

 Grass. It will soon overpower and choke out 

 Blue Grass, when you help it in this way. Con- 



tinued close mowing is extremely favorable to 

 nasty little creeping weeds. 



Fifthly, in sowing grass seed, you may have a 

 few Oats or Rye with it, in Fall sowing ; as the 

 leaves falling keep the young plants of gi'ass 

 against thawing and freezing out ; but keep them 

 cut down in Spriuo-, and never sow Rye or Oats, 

 or anything with the grass in Spring, for any 

 reason whatever. 



Sixthly, weeds, the first year or two, are apt 

 to be troublesome, but keep them down by the 

 scythe. Generally the second year the grass 

 will crowd them all out. 



This is about all there is in making a first- 

 class lawn. Of course there is much of detail 

 which only experience can work out. The sur- 

 face must be made very level ; but too much 

 time is often spent on tliis with hand rakes, as a 

 good and judicious rolling will often do just as 

 well, but these sort of lessons no writer can 

 teach. They come only to those who, at work, 

 have a keen appreciation of cause and eftect in 

 the work they are doing. 



Green House and House Gardening. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Many of our readers have only a few window 

 plants. These are often kept too warm, too wet, 

 have too little sun liojht, and liave too many in- 

 sects. In towns, in addition to all these, they 

 have often too much of the fumes f)f burning gas. 

 Leaks or escapes from the gas pipe is a well 

 known injurj-^ to plants, but it is not so well 

 known that plants sutler, though in a less degree, 

 from the common burning of coal gas. The trou- 

 ble with most room cultivators is to know when 

 plants get too much attention. Too many insects 

 are easily known, one — a single one — is by far too 

 many. We still think there is nothing like coal 

 oil to destroy all kinds of insects. A very little 

 — just enough to make a colored scum on the sur- 

 face of a tub of water is enough, and in this the in- 

 sect covered plant may be dipped, inverting the 

 pot ai^d plunging only the plant, and not the pot 



of course. If too much oil is used the plant may 

 be injured. Too wet is when a plant seldom gets 

 di-y — a health}' plant sliould get dry, and have 

 light dry looking surface soil, every two or three 

 days; as to heat, a temperature of about 55'^ or 

 00° is best for room plants, below that they do 

 not flower freely, above they gi'ow weak, espe- 

 cially if they have not a great deal of sunlight. 

 Indeed heat should be in proportion to direct 

 sunlight on the plants. 



Where the air is dry in rooms or greenhouses, 

 frequent syringings are of much benefit to plants. 

 Besides, cleanliness keeps down insects and 

 checks disease in plants as in animals. Most old 

 fashioned lady gardeners (and may Ave ever bless 

 them for the many lessons they have taught us,) 

 take every opportunity to set their window-plants 

 out of doors whenever a warm shower happens 

 to occur. In Winter a rain at a temperature of 

 40° or 45°, wiiich often occurs, might be called 

 a ''warm shower." Cold water does not have 



