Lawns and Tennis Grounds from Seed 



loam, the beneficial effect will be increased, and the grass will 

 scarcely be discoloured. This treatment offers the further advantage 

 of keeping down all broad-leaved plants, such as daisies, dandelions, 

 and plantains. 



We have occasionally been asked whether a lawn which is thin 

 might not be allowed to thicken its herbage by seeding. A more 

 disastrous course could not be pursued. It has exactly the opposite 

 effect to that desired, by weakening the standing plant. The little 

 seed that is produced will be shed by the coarser varieties, and if 

 these seeds, instead of being blown by the wind on to the nearest 

 border, take root in the lawn, the herbage will be deteriorated, and it 

 may take years to remedy the injury. 



Fairy Rings are sometimes troublesome on lawns. They 

 are caused by several fungi. When these decay the soil becomes 

 charged with nitrogenous matter, and a dark green growth of grass 

 is the result. The mycelium exhausts the soil of the constituents 

 which are essential to the existence of the fungi, and as new sup- 

 plies of food can only be found on fresh ground, the original spot 

 becomes a circle, which annually increases in circumference until 

 either it breaks up or the fungi become exhausted. 



One remedy is a dressing of two tons of slaked stone lime 

 per acre. Another is basic slag, at the rate of one ton per acre. 

 This is rather slower in its action than lime, and in many cases it 

 will be considered objectionable, because it encourages the growth 

 of clovers. The dressing may be necessary for two consecutive years. 

 Spring is the best time, especially when showery weather prevails. 



Moss in Lawns is generally a sign of poorness of soil, and 

 sometimes indicates the need of drainage. But before laying in 

 drain-pipes remedial measures should be tried, especially as the work 

 of draining seriously disfigures the place. There may also be a diffi- 

 culty as to the disposal of the outflow. To improve the grass, either 

 put the rake heavily over the sward, or, if the lawn be large enough, 

 employ a toothed harrow to drag out as much moss as possible. 

 Then spread over the turf a compost, previously prepared, of lime 

 mixed with rich soil, in the proportion of one load of lime to 

 four loads of soil ; the addition of Sutton's Ai Lawn Manure, 

 about two cwt. per acre, will stimulate the grass. Eight cartloads 

 of the compost should be applied per acre. About a fortnight 

 after the dressing has been spread, a sowing of seed will quickly 

 fill the ground with young healthy plants, and assist in preventing a 

 reappearance of the moss. 



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