Lawns and Tennis Grounds from Seed 



February, the ragged plant should be mown, and as the season 

 advances the necessity for more frequent cutting will be evident, 

 until in warm moist weather, twice a week, and possibly, for a brief 

 period, every other day may not be too often. No definite rule can 

 be stated on this point ; but the grass should never wear a neglected 

 appearance, nor should the work on any account be postponed to a 

 more convenient season. Except, perhaps, on a few occasions when 

 the herbage is too dense to permit the machine to run freely, 

 the collecting-box need not be used. The scattered grass is no 

 disfigurement to the lawn, and by leaving it some return is made to 

 the soil for the vegetation produced. Setting the mower requires the 

 exercise of judgment. It should never be so low as to graze the 

 surface, and in summer, during scorching sunshine, it will be advis- 

 able to raise the cutter a trifle higher than for strong spring growth. 



As autumn advances the mowing should be less frequent, and 

 may be discontinued altogether when the grass ceases to grow. The 

 date will depend entirely on the character of the season. 



Rolling. Next in importance to mowing is the use of the 

 roller. It is impossible to establish a lawn, or to maintain turf in 

 the finest condition, in the absence of a roller of suitable weight. 



After the first cutting of young grass the whole plot must be 

 gently compressed with a rather light roller, and the work needs care 

 to avoid breaking the surface by a clumsy foot. When the grass has 

 been cut two or three times an implement of greater weight is an 

 advantage, and it should not always be used in the same direction. 



Established lawns should be regularly rolled in suitable weather. 

 When the soil becomes hard through drought, the Operation can do 

 no good ; but after rain rolling is always beneficial, especially in 

 spring and autumn. During frost it will be injurious, but as the 

 temperature rises, and the grass becomes sufficiently dry, a fairly 

 heavy roller will consolidate the turf, which is often lifted irregularly 

 by intense cold. 



The best rollers are constructed with two cylinders, having the 

 outer edges rounded. The division of the cylinder facilitates turning, 

 and the rounded edges prevent unsightly "marks. 



Destruction of Weeds. After most careful preparation of the 

 land numerous annual and perennial weeds are certain to appear. 

 No matter how long the soil may have been cultivated, the weeds 

 which are indigenous in every district will, after any disturbance, 

 soon cover the ground. No soil is ever free from them unless it has 

 been burned, and then the immunity is all too brief. Some weed 



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