March.'] GRASS-PLATS AND WALKS. 50 



GRASS-PLATS AND WALKS. 



A most wonderful renovator of grass-plats may be found 

 in Guano. Take at the rate of one pound to twelve square 

 yards, mix it with double the quantity of sand, and before 

 rain in April or May, sow the mixture over the grass ; in a 

 few days its effects will be seen. Where grass lawns are 

 poor, and of a pale yellow colour, about four hundred weight 

 to the acre, mixed with sand, plaster, or dry earth, will effec 

 tually restore them to a luxuriant verdure. 



Hake and sweep off from these all litter, and worm-cast 

 earth, and give an occasional rolling to settle the ground, 

 and render the surface smooth where the scythe is to be used. 

 The grass will likewise grow better by rolling it where the 

 frost has partially thrown it out, and add greatly to its beau- 

 ty. Cut the edgings with an edging-iron or spade, so that 

 the whole will have a finished appearance. If any new turf 

 is required to be laid down, this is a very good time to do it, 

 before vegetation is strong ; as the turf that is now laid will 

 have taken root before the dry season commences. Where 

 a great extent is to be done, sowing might be adopted ; but 

 it will not have the effect of turf under three years, and du- 

 ing that time must be carefully cut, after the first season, 

 every three weeks, while growing; nor must it be too fre- 

 quently walked upon. White clover and true perennial rye- 

 grass are the seeds most proper for sowing. The ground 

 must, in the first place, be all equally made up, and levelled 

 with the spade and rake; not "cart-loads of soil laid down 

 and levelled," which would finally become very uneven, ana 

 wouia need to be lifted and relaid next year. The best turf 

 is that of. fs close-growing pasture or common, free from all 

 kinds of '..*^ds or strong roots, and the grass short. To cut 

 it expeditiously, be provided with a turfing-iron; but if that 

 cannot be conveniently had, a spade may do very well. Strain 

 a line tight, cutting the turf lengthwise, at equal distances, 

 from twelve to eighteen inches. Next draw the line across, 

 cutting from one and a half to two feet; then cut them up 

 with the spade, about one and a half inch thick. In laying, 

 join them close and alternately; when done, beat them firm 

 ^ith a level woo len beater, and roll with a heavy roller. 



Grass-walks, iu the last century, were very popular ; but 



