THE LAWN 81 



for malediction, but at least it renders the cultivation of our grass 

 plots a comparatively simple matter. 



A new lawn may be made either in spring or autumn, but the 

 precise time must depend largely upon the meteorological con- 

 ditions, and also upon whether it is intended to lay turf or sow 

 seed. And here arises a puzzling problem for the amateur: 

 Is it better to sow seed or to lay turf ? Both have their advan- 

 tages. To make a nw lawn by sowing seed is a considerably 

 cheaper process than that of laying new turf. But seed-sowing, 

 involves an immense amount of care in the preparation of the soil, 

 and in order to secure any prospect of success, it is necessary to 

 sow only towards the end of the summer say in August and 

 September or to wait until spring has well arrived in April. 

 The use of turf has one outstanding advantage in the fact that 

 it produces a finished effect almost as soon as it is laid. But 

 turf is expensive, and unless one is certain of the source of supply 

 there is a danger that it may have been cut from a pasture abound- 

 ing in noxious weeds that will exercise all the skill and patience, 

 and a good deal of the time of the cultivator to eradicate. These 

 are advantages and disadvantages that must be weighed carefully 

 by the gardener who contemplates the making of a new lawn ; 

 but from the point of view of economy there can be no question 

 that in these days, when seed specialists have brought the mixing 

 and production of grass seed to a fine art, the grass-sown lawn 

 will produce a better sward than can be obtained from a turf- 

 laid area. 



The methods of preparing the ground, whether for seed-sowing 

 or for turf, are practically identical. The great essential in each 

 case is thorough drainage. If the soil be naturally light, and the 

 subsoil largely gravel, there need be no qualms about the efficiency 

 of the drainage, but if the foundation be of heavy clay, which 

 does not admit of the ready escape of surplus moisture, it is 

 hopeless to expect the production of a perfect lawn. Either the 

 clay must be dug out to a good depth and lighter soil substituted, 

 or drain-pipes must be utilised to take off superfluous water. 

 This may involve a little expense, but it will be repaid a hundred- 



