164 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



when they are of any extent ; but small places may be pre- 

 pared and planted at once, April next to August being the best 

 season. We may remark, however, that when it is intended 

 to lay down a lawn of an acre or more, the preparation for it 

 should begin at once. The ground should be ploughed and 

 subsoiled immediately, and if it requires any grading, it 

 should be completed at the same time : it may then be 

 planted with any crop which will come off early, potatoes 

 perhaps being the best ; these should be taken off the last of 

 July or beginning of August and the levelling proceeded with 

 preparatory to sowing the seed. 



The ground being well trenched or subsoiled, the surface 

 should then be thoroughly pulverized and made perfectly 

 smooth, for unless this is done with the greatest care, it would 

 be impossible to mow it evenly. The stones should not only be 

 raked off, but any that are left, even after almost the finest rake, 

 must be gathered by hand. The ground should then be re- 

 peatedly trodden and rolled, until a firm and uniform surface 

 is obtained. There is no half-way about this process, if you 

 ever expect a close velvety turf. Before levelling, if the 

 ground is not in good heart, a small quantity of fine old com- 

 post may be worked in, or guano, just sufficient to give the 

 seed a start ; for too rich a surface will only give the grass a 

 rank and coarse growth : it is steady moisture that is wanted, 

 rather than stimulating manures, and the former the trenched 

 ground will supply. Be sure that every dock, dandehon, or 

 other weedy root is completely eradicated from the soil. 



The kind of grass seed and the quantity is the next im- 

 portant process. In England a variety of grasses are generally 

 recommended and used ; but, in our climate, so far as our ex- 

 perience goes, we do not need so many. With us, the finest 

 Bent grass (Agrostis vulgaris) and white clover (Ti'ifolinm 

 repens) are sufficient, though in some instances perennial rye 

 grass {Lolium perenne) may be used in small quantities ; but 

 the main supply must be the two former, and of the cleanest 

 and purest quality. Three bushels to the acre, and not an 

 atom short, is the least that will seed an acre, the proportion 

 being two and seven-eighths bushels of Bent grass and half a 



