346 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



MARCH. 



THE LAWN. 



As soon as the snow and frost leave the ground, and a 

 few dry days have taken off the excess of moisture, all 

 grass plats should be cleaned of any remaining fall-ap- 

 plied manure or other litter, by the use of the rake, and 

 rolled to remove the roughness they usually present after 

 winter. In many jjlaces fall manuring of the lawn is 

 very reasonably objected too on account of the presence 

 of the unsightly coat for so many months. Where this 

 is the case, manure may be applied as soon as the snow 

 leaves in the spring, and by leaving it on through the 

 spring rains the benefits derived will nearly equal those 

 of fall manuring, and the lawn be disfigured for a few 

 weeks only. 



GRAVEL WALKS. 



Go over with a heavy roller, after the frost is gone, to 

 settle them. Once in every three to five years the sur- 

 face of the gravel ought to be turned over and rolled 

 down again to give it new shape. 



SHRUBS AND TREES. 



There need be no hurry to uncover tender or newly 

 planted shrubs and trees that have been protected. The 

 alternate freezing and thawing they are subjected to in 

 severe, late springs, is very injurious. When uncovered, 

 they should at once receive any pruning they may need. 

 If the general pruning of the hardy shrubs and trees has 

 not yet been done, it should receive early attention. 



