The Canadian Horticulturist. 393 



supplied with deep green foliage. It is the Fagus sylvatica crisiata of the 

 catalogues. There are two forms of this kind occasionally to be found in 

 foreign collections, with variegated leaves, but as our hot summers invariably 

 scorch them badly it is wise to reject both. 



It would be unjust to one of our most valued native trees if in this paper 

 we were to ignore the importance of the American beech {F. ferruginea). It 

 is not so dense a grower as its European relative, nor has it as fine large foliage 

 as its foreign relative, but it possesses a beauty peculiar to itself and a character 

 that belongs to no other tree. In a word, it is invaluable as a lawn tree in 

 grounds of ample extent, but would be entirely out of place in the limited 

 door yard. — Josiah Hoopes. 



GRADING A LAWN. 



i^HE grading, when properly done, is a most costly and difficult 

 task, and that wherein the artistic tastes and judgment of the 

 workman most plainly come to light. Around dwellings there 

 should, of course, be as perfect a grade as possible. Away from 

 dwellings, especially on large lawns, many prefer an undulating 

 surface as being more natural and, therefore, more artistic, with which idea I 

 am in full sjTnpathy. The undulations, when they naturally exist, should be 

 carefully smoothed and made gradual, so that when mown with a horse lawn- 

 mower the grass shall not be cut too long and too short in places, making the 

 lawn look spotted, especially in a dry time, when grass cut extremely short is 

 likely to burn out, or at least get badly injured. 



I find it takes more care properly to grade a lawn with an undulating sur- 

 face than on a comparatively perfect grade. The top soil for at least 1 2 inches 

 should be carefully cleaned of all stones the size of a hen's egg and up, and of 

 all roots and trash of every kind. It cannot be made too clean. For sake of 

 both economy and good work, I use horses and horse implements as much as 

 possible in grading. In so far as they can be used, they are much cheaper 

 than the average Irishman with his wheelbarrow, pick and shovel, and the 

 inevitable short stemmed pipe, smoked upside down. Where soil is not likely 

 to wash, I think it best to let it lie (when graded in the latter part of summer or 

 in the fall) till the following spring. Unless carefully firmed by hand, an ex[>en- 

 sive task, it is bound to settle more or less unevenly. After settling, the 

 unevenness of the surface can be easily corrected just before seeding. Where 

 any grading is so deep as to go into the subsoil to a considerable extent, care 

 should be used in saving the top soil, so as to have it on top when the gradmg 

 is completed. The more even the depth of this top soil, the better for the 

 appearance of the lawn. — Countr)* Gentleman. 



