GRASSES FOR THE LAWN. 309 



in favor of plants raised from seed obtained in the above man- 

 ner. 



In reviewing Darwin's book, the Gardener's Chronicle said: 

 " It is certain that these practical results will be a long time 

 filtering into the minds of those who will eventually profit most 

 by them." 



The results, so far, fully accord with the prophetic statement 

 above quoted ; the people are slow, very slow, to profit by the 

 experiments. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



GRASSES FOR THE LAWN, THE GARDEN, AND FOR DECORATION. 



The Lawn. " Grass is the most lowly, the simplest, and the 

 loveliest element to be used in the adornment of home. A 

 smooth, closely shaven surface of grass is by far the most essen- 

 tial element of beauty on the grounds of a suburban home." 

 (F. J. Scott.) 



" It would be a great gain to horticulture if ten out of every 

 twelve ' flowerbeds' in Europe were blotted out with fresh green 

 grass." (Robinson's Parks of Paris.) 



"A lawn is the ground work of a landscape-garden." (H. W. 

 Sargent.) 



Listen to A. J. Downing : " The great elements of landscape 

 gardening are trees and grass. For this purpose we do not look 

 upon grass with the eyes of the farmer who raises three tons to 

 the acre. "We have no patience with the tall and gigantic fodder, 

 by this name, that grows in the fertile bottoms of the West, so 

 tall that the largest Durham is lost to view while walking through 

 it. No, we love the soft turf which is thrown like a smooth, 

 natural carpet over the swelling outline of the smiling earth. 



