50 Hints on Landscape Gardening 



of October the most beautiful green will cover 

 the new meadows. The next year they should 

 be mowed quite early, in order to obtain an even 

 growth, but the seed should be allowed to ripen 

 and fall to the ground, thus securing a greater 

 density of turf for the following year. Nothing 

 more is now necessary than to roll it well every 

 year after each mowing, and every three or four 

 years, as may be required, to fertilize it plenti- 

 fully with a compost field soil, muck, or with 

 manure. In this manner, on light dry soil and 

 to the surprise of many landowners, I have pro- 

 duced the most luxurious meadow, which, in- 

 stead of giving out in ten years as was prophe- 

 sied, steadily improved, and from a pecuniary 

 point of view has proved quite a good invest- 

 ment, as in four years the capital spent on it has 

 been repaid. 



(4) Marshy ground should first be dried, for 

 which the English method of underground drains 

 is the best. This consists of large hollow tiles 

 laid on flat tiles (bricks), making durable little 

 canals, which are not constantly choked by debris, 

 as is the case with drains made by filling ditches 

 with brushwood and stones. If one has plenty 

 of rapidly flowing water, one may often devise 

 charming open waterways, which drain off the 

 water even better than the tiles, and make a most 

 attractive feature in the landscape. If cleverly 

 constructed in a natural way, they will improve 

 instead of disfiguring the prospect. I recom- 

 mend, for such little streams, the construction 



