Lawns and Tennis Grounds from Seed 



sward, and if hollow spots are filled with a thick covering of earth it 

 is necessary to re-sow and follow with the mower and roller as already 

 advised. But where the plant is fairly thick, it may perhaps be 

 possible to cut the young turf in small square sections, lifting each 

 one separately by means of a thin flat board or small sheet of zinc. 

 After making good the level, the pieces of turf can, with care, be 

 relaid without much injury. As a finish lightly touch the surface with 

 the flat beater and spray over the grass two or three cans of water. 



Inequalities in old lawns can be remedied by a simpler mode 

 of treatment. Across the depressed spot cut with an edging iron 

 parallel lines in the grass, ten or twelve inches apart, making also 

 one cut in the centre at right angles to the others; then use the 

 turf cutter and roll back the turf from the centre. Make the bed 

 perfectly level, leaving the soil with a firm but crumbled surface ; 

 carefully restore the turf, which will be found rather too long for the 

 space, and tenderly compress it into the original position ; beat 

 down, give a soaking of water, and in due time mow and roll. In a 

 few days no trace of the operation will be visible, but the grass ought 

 not to be roughly used until it has taken a firm hold. 



Lawns which have become sour and stagnant should be dressed 

 with five or six cwt. per acre of slaked stone lime, and as a rule it is 

 wise, after an interval of three or four weeks, to follow with Peruvian 

 guano or A i Lawn Manure, at the rate of three cwt. per acre. 



The question of destroying clover in lawns frequently arises. To 

 deal with the plants individually entails a considerable amount of 

 labour and may be only partially successful, especially on soils where 

 clovers are indigenous. A tap-rooted plant such as the greater 

 Bird's-foot Trefoil can be cleared with little trouble; but White 

 Clover and the small Yellow Suckling are not so easily disposed of. 

 Two artificial manures, sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda, 

 are known to be prejudicial to clovers. They force the growth 

 of grasses, and as a result the clovers are crowded out. A reaction 

 follows the application of either of these manures, and to main- 

 tain the sward in good condition a liberal top-dressing is necessary 

 in the succeeding year. The two artificials are sometimes mixed in 

 equal proportions. But whether applied separately or mixed, the 

 proper quantity is one pound per rod of land. More than this, 

 applied at one time, will burn the grass badly. Several dressings 

 may, however, be given during the summer, and in dry weather 

 it should be followed by watering. If the artificial is mixed a 

 fortnight before use with four times its bulk of leaf-mould or rich 



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