318 THE PLEASURE, OR [MARCH 



(Poa pratensis), and our native variety of white clover (Trifolium 

 repens). They are the best for lawns in all cases as they do not 

 " burn out," and form a close sward. 



If you have much to lay, you should be provided with a turfing 

 iron. This instrument is formed with an iron plate for the cutter, 

 six or seven inches wide, rounding at the edge, very sharp, and about 

 a foot long, pretty much in the form of a spade; and at the tread, 

 it is forged or connected to a long bent iron handle, the bending so 

 formed as to admit of the plate or cutter resting flat on the ground, 

 in the proper position for flaying the turf; the iron handle at top 

 being either formed like the handle of a spade, or having a socket 

 near the plate to place a crooked wooden and properly headed handle 

 therein. With this instrument, turf can be taken off with much more 

 convenience and expedition than with a spade; but when it cannot 

 be conveniently had, a spade may do very well. 



It will also be necessary in order to go completely about your work, 

 to have a racer or sward-cutter. This should have a stout wooden 

 handle, about four feet long and bent a little in the lower end, 

 having about four or five inches of the point end of an old scythe, 

 placed transversely in the lower extremity, with the point down- 

 wards, projecting an inch and a half, with the edge forward and 

 made fast in a slit in the handle with a couple of rivets ; so that 

 when pushed before you, it may expeditiously cut the sward as you 

 race it along. 



Having this instrument, strain a line tight, first lengthwise, then 

 strike the racer into the sward close to the line, run it along, it will 

 expeditiously cut its way and divide the turf to a proper depth ; 

 directly place the line a foot farther, and race it out as before, and 

 so proceed to as many widths as may be wanted, then with the line 

 placed crosswise, race out the sward in yard lengths. Being thus 

 divided, the turf-cutter with his turfing iron proceeds to cut them up, 

 about an inch and a half thick, which he can do with great expedi- 

 tion ; and according as they are cut, each should be rolled up with 

 the grass side inward, as close and firm as possible, for the more ready 

 carrying and removing them without breaking. 



Let the ground where the turf is to be laid, be made as even as 

 possible, that it may settle equally thereafter, and rake the surface 

 smooth. In laying them, make the edges join close every way, and 

 as soon as laid, the whole should be immediately well beaten, with 

 a wooden beater, and afterwards rolled with a heavy stone, or iron 

 roller. 



GRAVEL WALKS. 



Now is the time to begin to turn gravel walks where the surface 

 is dirty, &c., especially in the middle States, observing, that this is 

 to be done where necessary in all parts of the Union as early as 

 possible in spring. 



The gravel walks which display a dirty surface, or are annoyed 

 with weeds, should be turned as early in this month as the weather 

 gets dry and comfortable, in order to render them neat and conve- 





