CHAP. Ill VILLA GARDENING 23 



not exceed half au acre, the terrace system does not fit iu so well 

 as when the plants and shrubs are disposed in a more natural 

 manner. There are many ways of making a lawn, and there is 

 more thau one plant adapted for small lawns. Turf composed of 

 a mixture of grasses, with generally a certain proportion of weeds, is 

 the material conunonly employed for covering the ground iu front of 

 the house, and which we call a lawn. There are many advantages iu 

 having the grouud in the immediate front of the house covered 

 with something that will bear walking or running upon — where 

 little feet may dance about to their hearts' content without doing 

 any damage — and turf forms the best medium. Local circum- 

 stances will sometimes guide us as to the formation of the lawn — 

 whether it shall be laid with turf or sown with seeds. In either 

 case the ground should be well prepared, and, if possible, it 

 should be free from the seeds of weeds, which implies that it has 

 been under cleanly cultivation for some time previously. If grass 

 seeds are sown it is very important that the laud should have 

 undergone a course of cleanly culture for a year or two, and unless 

 tiu'f can be obtained very cheaply in the neighbourhood I should 

 certainly recommend grass seed iu preference. The site of the 

 projiosed lawn should be dug over, and if the ground is poor, a 

 dressing of manure will be beneficial. The surface should be 

 raked fine, removing all stones and roots or other foreign matters, 

 so as to secure a fine tilth. It will be better if the digging can be 

 done a month or two before it is necessary to sow the seeds, as 

 exposure to the weather will improve the working, especially if 

 the soil is heavy. The seeds may be sown in September, if it is 

 convenient, as early in the month as possible, as then a good plant 

 Avill be obtained before winter sets in. I have seen a good turf 

 secured the following spring from September-sown seeds. 



Next to September the best time to sow is towards the end of 

 March or beginning of April. In the preparation of the surface 

 for the seeds the same amount of pressure should be ajjplied all 

 over, or it may settle unevenly and give trouble. To obtain a 

 good turf quickly from seeds they nuist be sown thickly. At 

 least 4 bushels per acre should be sown. And for small lawns 

 near trees, or where birds are numerous, 6 bushels per acre will 

 not be too much, as the birds will take some. One — I may say 

 the chief — reason why lawns from seeds take so long to estab- 

 lish is, that the seeds are too thinly scattered about. The same 

 pains should be taken iu preparing the land where turf is employed 

 in applying ijressm'e equally all over the surface, so that the lawn 

 may settle evenly. Lawns newly planted with seeds or turf 

 should be skimmed over lightly with the scythe several times 



