152 PRACTICAL GARDENING. 



shows the consequences of neglect, or that retains them longer. 

 Let the f^rass be in every way good, all that we could wish, 

 and let it°go a fortnight too long in growing weather unmown, 

 and the roughness may last the greater part of the summer. 

 We need hardly say here that the mower should be one of the 

 best of the workmen, that he should be able to cut very close 

 and very even, leaving no marks of the sc}i;he. To do his 

 work properly, it should be all done while the dew is on the 

 o-rass, nor should he allow the grass in the growing season to 

 go long together without cutting. As fast as he mows, some- 

 body else should sweep up the cuttings, and remove them, for 

 in hot weather it would change the colour of the grass beneath 

 in a very short time. Before the morning of cutting, the 

 o-rass should be rolled, and if there be many worm-casts, it 

 should be bush-harrowed or swept with a coarse broom, to 

 spread them about before rolling. If the lawn be inclined to 

 produce moss, solving wood ashes before the dew is off in the 

 mornincT three or four times during the season will be of great 

 service and nothing must be omitted in the way of close 

 cutting, for nothing but that will keep a good bottom. If a 

 lawn has been neglected, and got into hollows and bare places, 

 a coatin^^ of road-drift all over it, so as to make the surface 

 perfectly level, will be the only good and quick remedy. Let 

 there be new grass-seeds on all the bare places before the road- 

 drift is put on, because in the raking, rolling, and levelling 

 the coating, the seeds will be sufficiently disturbed to bring 

 plenty near the surface, and in a short time will produce a 

 fine coat of grass of the old and new together, and the surface, 

 being rolled from time to time, will be so levelled, that the 

 grass all over can be cut even and close ; in fact, it can be made 

 far better than it ever has been, in consequence of the better 

 level and thinner growth. To keep a lawn in first-rate order, 

 there must be a hea^^ roller, one equal to the strength of two 

 men, and this should be used after the ground is a httle 

 softened by rain, and the grass has got dry again; not that it 

 is necessary the grass should be dry, but that after rain, there 

 should be some twelve or twenty-four hours to let the wet 

 soak down a little. 



Worms. — If worms are too troublesome, give them lime- 

 water, pretty strong; it is better almost to discolour the 

 grass a little while, than to be pestered with worm-casts, for 

 it renders the lawn useless. No ladies can walk where worm- 



