THE LA WN. Ill 



Rolling mowers by horse or hand power have been principally 

 employed on large grounds ; but the hand machines are now so 

 simplified and cheapened that they are coming into general use on 

 small pleasure grounds, and proprietors may have the pleasure of 

 doing their own mowing without the wearisome bending of the 

 back, incident to the use of the scythe. Whoever spends the early 

 hours of one summer, while the dew spangles the grass, in pushing 

 these grass-cutters over a velvety lawn, breathing the fresh sweet- 

 ness of the morning air and the perfume of new mown hay, will 

 never rest contented again in the city. It is likely that professional 

 garden laborers will buy these machines and contract cheaply for 

 the periodical mowing of a neighborhood of yards, so that those 

 who cannot or do not desire to do it for themselves may have 

 it done cheaply. The roller is an essential implement in keeping 

 the lawn to a fine surface, and should be thoroughly used as soon 

 as the frost is out of the ground ; for it will then be most effective 

 to level the uneven heaving and settling of the earth. After 

 heavy rains it is also useful, not only in preserving a smooth 

 surface, but in breaking down and checking the vertical tendency 

 of grass that is too succulent. 



The season after seeding many persons are discouraged by the 

 luxuriance of the weeds, and the apparent faint-heartedness of the 

 grass. They must keep on mowing and rolling patiently. Most 

 of these forward weeds are of sorts that do not survive having their 

 heads cut off half a dozen times ; while good lawn grasses fairly 

 laugh and grow fat with decapitation. Weeds of certain species, 

 however, will persist in thrusting their uninvited heads through the 

 best kept lawns. These are to be dealt with like cancers. A long 

 sharp knife, and busy fingers, are the only cure for them. 



