THE HOME FLORIST. 



grass from the sun. Frequent mowing of the grass and, let rhe add, weeds, also, for the first 

 few months at least should be attended to. The weed seed lying dormant in the ground at 

 sowing time, will spring up thick and rank with the grass, but will 

 finally succumb to the frequent use of the lawn mower or scythe, 

 while the grass will improve in strength and appearance with 

 each cutting. Mowing every week or two will not be too often. 

 The grass should be raked off after each mowing with a fine- 

 toothed rake. Lawns are frequently sown during the early fall 

 months with excellent results. 



Sometimes after a good sod has formed on the lawn, it is 

 desirable to remove a tree or shrub from one part of the grounds 

 to another, or to plant a new one. In Fig. 4 we illustrate how 

 this can be accomplished, without mutilating or otherwise injur- 

 ing the sod, by making four cuts, two or three feet in length, 

 away from the tree, and rolling the sod back while taking up 

 or planting, and again unfolding it into its original position after 

 the soil has been properly leveled. With a little care th'is 

 operation may be so nicely performed as scarcely to leave any 

 visible marks afterwards. 



Sodding, The edges of grass-sown lawns, bordering on 

 walks, drives, flower beds, etc., should, for protection, be sodded 

 4- one or two feet wide, with turf obtained from an even grassy 



spot in the meadow, where no weeds are growing, and cut into square blocks, or into lengths of 

 five or six feet and one foot wide, which can be conveniently rolled up for handling ; they may 

 be cut two inches thick and should be laid closely and compactly together, beating down smooth 

 with the back of the spade, so that there will be no crevices between the cut portions or 

 beneath them. This work is best done early in the spring or late in autumn. 



Walks and Drives. Good dry roads or walks are a great comfort about the home, 

 and when well made and finished they impart decided character and finish to grounds. The 

 ordinary method of securing the curves which has been decided upon, is by measurement or by 

 setting small stakes on the line of the road, and moving them until the curve seems graceful 



A A^ and pleasant to the eye. We find a very 



Jllllllllllljj, A good plan in J. Weidemann's excellent 



work on Landscape Gardening, published 

 by the Orange Judd Co., for accomplishing 

 this. In the engraving, it will be readily 

 seen how, by means of a- stout cord and 

 stakes, the curve is secured. After the 

 desired course and width of walks and 

 drives are decided upon, the work of mak- 

 ing may commence. Excavate from one 

 to two feet, fill in with large stones, upon these put smaller ones, diminishing the size as the 

 surface is reached, and finish off with coarse gravel, and then with a coat of finer, roll well, 

 and there will be a road that will need little mending and fit to travel in all weather. 



Designs for Flower Beds on the Lawn. With a ten-foot pole, two stakes 

 eighteen inches long and a cord to connect them, and several dozen small stakes for defining 

 outlines, the following designs may easily be made. In Fig. 6 ascertain the points of the star 

 by setting five stakes at equal distance from each other on the circle ; lay the ten-foot pole from 

 each stake to the second one from it both ways, and mark with a pointed stick. For the Moon 

 make one large circle for the circumference, and another smaller with the center a little moved 

 to give the inside shape. To make an Oval, first lay out an oblong square of the desired size, 

 placing slakes at the corners. Then set five, seven or any like number of stakes, on each side, 

 as is shown in Fig. 7- Now lay the pole against the middle, long side stake, and the first 

 stake from the corner on the short side, and draw a mark ; then move it to the stake next the 

 middle on the long side and stake number two on the short side, and draw another mark, pro- 

 ceed in this manner around the entire square, and a well-proportioned oval will finally result. 

 Triangular and other forms are readily made with the pole, stakes and line. 



Fig. 6. 



Fig. 7. 



Fig. 8. 



