Lawns and Tennis Grounds from Seed 



watering of newly sown land is to be avoided, but it may become a 

 necessity if the grass is to be saved. A small plot can easily be 

 watered by hose, or even by the water-can fitted with a fine rose. A 

 large area presents difficulties, especially in the absence of hose, or 

 if water has to be carried a considerable distance. In any case there 

 must be no rude trampling on the soil. Flat boards laid at intervals, 

 and ordinary care, will prevent injury from the traffic. The water 

 must be delivered in a fine spray, and for a sufficient time to prevent 

 the necessity of a second application. 



Bird Scares. Sparrows and several of the finches are particu- 

 larly partial to grass seeds, and they do mischief in other ways. The 

 birds break up the surface, eat until surfeited, and then take a dust- 

 bath. There are many methods of scaring them, and some plan 

 must be adopted to preserve the seed from these marauders. 



Small plots can be protected by nets, but on a large scale this 

 mode of defence is, of course, out of the question. One cheap 

 scare is to connect lengths of twine to tall stakes, and at intervals 

 hang strips of glittering tin, slightly twisted, in order that they may 

 be freely turned by the wind. Another remedy is to make an 

 example of some of the pirates, and hang them up as a warning. 

 When the sown area is extensive it should be watched by a lad until 

 the plant appears. He must be an early riser, and, if it will not 

 prove a nuisance, he may be intrusted with a gun and a few blank 

 cartridges. Or an irregular network of black thread may be em- 

 ployed. The strands need not be very close together, but they must 

 be black. Occasionally a bird touches one of them and is thoroughly 

 startled. 



Mowing 1 . While the plant is quite young it should be topped 

 with a sharp scythe. This will encourage the grasses to tiller out 

 and their roots to fill the soil. At brief intervals the cutting should 

 be repeated, and for this early work on the tender grass the scythe is 

 preferable to the mowing machine. Indeed, the risk of injury from 

 the mower is so great that many practical men condemn its employ- 

 ment until the plant is fairly established. But the condition of the 

 machine must be taken into account. We have successfully used a 

 mower for the very first cutting of a newly sown lawn, having 

 previously ascertained by a trial on old grass that the cutters were in 

 perfect order. 



In the judicious use of the mower lies one secret of maintain- 

 ing a close sward. During severe winter weather the implement may 

 not be wanted for several weeks. But early in the year probably in 



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