LAVATERA. 



290 



LAWNS. 



anceof a large expanse of ground filled with | would do well, before deciding on a 

 lavender bushes in flower is remarkable for I machine, to consult the price lists sent out 

 colour, to say nothing of the odour that ! by such makers as Messrs. Ransomes and 



is exhaled from it. 



Lavate'ra (nat. ord. 



A genus of very profuse-blooming showy 

 plants, including annuals, biennials, and 

 perennials, which are exceedingly attractive 

 as a background to other plants, or for 



Co., Ipswich ; Messrs. T. Green and Son, 

 Limited, Leeds and London ; and Messrs. 

 Barnard, Bishop, and Barnard, Norwich. 



Lawns. 



During spring, and the early summer 

 months, all garden turf and lawns will 



woodland walks and wilderness decora- require very great attention. If they are 

 tions, growing freely in any soil. The to look well for the rest of the year (and 



we must remember that the general ap- 

 pearance of the whole garden depends 

 much upon the state of the turf), it is at 

 such times that the broom and the roll 

 must be kept in constant use. If the grass, 

 from the nature of the soil, is inclined to 

 grow rank and coarse, it will be much 

 improved by a good dressing of sand all 

 over it; if, on the other hand, it has a 

 tendency to scald and burn up, it will 

 receive great benefit from a sprinkling of 

 good guano or soot just before a shower of 

 rain. Before regular mowing commences, 

 it will be well to go over all grass, care- 

 fully removing rank and unsightly weeds, 

 daisies, dandelions, the little buttercup, 

 &c., &c. Wherever the turf is mossy, it 

 is a very good plan to rake it well with a 



LAVATERA TRIMESTRIS. 



best -known sorts are Lavatera trimestris, 



with rose-coloured flowers, 3 feet, hardy sharp five-toothed rake ; but it must be 



annual, and L. arborea, or Tree Mallow, 

 with violet flowers, 5 feet, hardy biennial. 



Lawn Mowers. 



Although alike in action and general 

 principle, there are so many of these 

 useful machines in the market that it 

 would be a matter of the utmost difficulty 

 to afford space for a description of them, 

 with a list in detail showing sizes and 

 prices. All that can be said is that no 

 gardener should be without one suited to 

 his requirements and the size of his lawn, 

 &c. Half the battle goes in looking up 

 Uie teest makers ; and intending purchasers 



borne in mind that under-draining is the 

 only effectual cure for moss. Daisies 

 should never be allowed to flower ; a good 

 daisy rake, with a little trouble, will remove 

 all flowers as they come out ; but the only 

 plan to clear a lawn effectually of these 

 disagreeable weeds is to take them out with 

 the daisy fork wherever they are found 

 (see Daisy Fork^ Daisy Rake). Daisies, 

 and indeed all weeds, are more easily 

 removed in wet weather, or after a shower, 

 than when the ground is dry. The too! 

 may be used by any lady or child ; and in 

 process of time the most hopeless pieces oi 

 grass may be cleared by it. Turf, quiU 



