Lawns and Tennis Grounds from Seed 



and quickly discolour tennis balls. It is therefore advisable to sow 

 grasses only for tennis lawns, putting and bowling greens, unless the 

 turf is peculiarly liable to scorch in summer. Then it is an open 

 question whether an admixture of clovers may be regarded as the 

 lesser of two evils. For the reasons stated it is our practice to 

 omit clover seeds from mixtures to be sown for the purposes named, 

 unless a wish to the contrary is expressed. 



The following grasses and clovers are specially suited for lawns, 

 and the characteristics of the several varieties indicate the soil and 

 purpose for which each kind is naturally adapted. It is seldom 

 necessary to include the whole of them in any one prescription. 



Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dogstail}. The foliage is dwarf, 

 compact in growth, and possesses the great advantage of remaining 

 green for an unusual time in the absence of rain. The roots are 

 capable of penetrating the hardest soil, and the plant is well adapted 

 for sowing on dry loams, especially such as rest upon a chalky sub- 

 soil, for which it manifests a marked partiality. Still, this grass will 

 ihrive almost anywhere, and should form a prominent constituent of 

 most prescriptions for lawns, putting greens, and cricket grounds. 

 Crested Dogstail is strictly perennial, but it does not attain maturity 

 until quite two years after it is sown. 



Festuca duriuscula (Hard Fescue] grows freely on sheep 

 downs, and when mingled in due proportion with other varieties it 

 largely contributes to the formation of a fine close turf. The plant 

 commences growing early in spring, and seed should be sown on all 

 soils that are not very wet. The common name applies only to the 

 flower heads, which when ripe are decidedly hard. Of all the 

 grasses known in this country, F. duriuscula is probably the most 

 hardy. It endures cold and drought equally well. 



Festuca ovina tenuifolia (Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue). The 

 foliage of Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue maintains its dark green colour 

 for some time in hot dry weather, and is so slender as to render the 

 term ' blades of grass ' almost a misnomer. Although this grass will 

 combine freely with other varieties, a homogeneous turf cannot be 

 obtained from Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue alone. The plants grow 

 in dense tufts, and exhibit a decided antipathy to each other. As 

 the roots descend to a considerable depth in search of moisture, the 

 plant thrives on sandy or rocky soils. In the early stage of growth 

 it is easily overpowered by weeds, and for this reason autumn is 

 preferable to spring sowing, because weeds are then less prevalent. 

 But for the finest sward Sheep's Fescue cannot be dispensed with, 



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