368 THE FORMATION OF LAWNS FROM SEED 



bouring field. Upon every spot thus treated a strong colony of 

 Bromus mollis was growing, and the great pale green tufts defied all 

 efforts to extirpate them until the crowns were severely scored with a 

 knife and salted, leaving large bare patches. The only efficient way 

 of ridding soil of troublesome weed seeds is to burn it. This operation 

 is well understood by agriculturists, and we should like to insist upon 

 it as not only essential when adding strange soil upon which a lawn 

 Is to be made, but highly desirable whenever the land to be laid down 

 as a lawn is of a very clayey character, in which case burning is often 

 worth undertaking for the marvellous effect it has on the future 

 growth. But we are not unmindful of the different conditions which 

 prevail in the farm and the garden. The farm is in the open country, 

 where smouldering fires are a nuisance to nobody. Near a town they 

 may call forth a storm of remonstrance. If the proximity of dwellings 

 renders burning impracticable, the only alternative as regards the 

 weeds is to allow their seeds plenty of time to germinate, and destroy 

 successive crops of them by light hoeings in dry weather. The dis- 

 integration of the soil, which is one of the good effects of burning clay, 

 may to some extent be obtained by simply digging up the ground in 

 autumn and leaving it rough for the frosts to break down and sweeten. 

 Of course waiting for the weed seeds to start is vexatious when the 

 land is prepared and the season is passing away. Still it will prove a 

 real saving both of time and labour to insure a clean seed-bed. After 

 grasses are sown the soil must not be disturbed, and atmospheric 

 conditions may follow which retard the germination of the grasses 

 but do not in the least hinder the growth of weeds. The latter rob 

 the soil of its moisture, choke the rising grasses, and only too often 

 doom the sowing to failure. Those who are practically acquainted 

 with gardening know that land which has been regularly cultivated 

 for years, and is supposed to be fairly clean, will always produce a 

 plentiful crop of weeds, although no seed whatever be sown ; yet 

 many a faultless lot of grass seed has been condemned when the 

 weeds have had their origin entirely in the soil. Delay offers 

 the further advantage that the soil will become thoroughly consoli- 

 dated a condition which is highly favourable to grasses, and very 

 difficult of attainment under hurried preparation. 



ENRICHING THE SOIL. In preparing for a lawn, the fertility of the 

 soil is too often disregarded, but it is a matter of importance never- 

 theless. Luxuriant Peas, Beans, Broccoli, and Lettuce are not ex- 

 pected from poverty-stricken land ; but any soil, however exhausted, 

 is supposed to be good enough for growing grass, although grass is 



