THE FORMATION OF LAWNS FROM SEED 373 



there is this fact in favour of thick seeding, that the more closely the 

 plants are crowded the finer will be the herbage. A plot of land 

 measuring 100 feet by 50 feet will give a useful margin round a full- 

 sized tennis court, and this area will be liberally seeded with half a 

 bushel of grasses, assuming that the requisite time can be allowed for 

 the development of the plant. But it generally happens that a tennis 

 court is wanted almost before it is sown, and the only known 

 means of insuring the rapid formation of a fine sward is by very 

 thick seeding. In such cases the sowing of a bushel of grasses 

 on the space just named is quite reasonable, and even this 

 quantity may be exceeded without being open to the charge of 

 extravagance. 



TIME OF SOWING. Grass seeds may be sown at any time be- 

 tween the middle of March and the end of September. But from 

 the latter half of May on to about August 10, dry or hot weather 

 often proves too much for the young plants. They cannot acquire 

 sufficient stamina to endure continued drought or fierce heat unless 

 constant watering is possible, and it is exceedingly annoying to see a 

 good plant wither away. From the middle of March to the first week 

 of May is the best period for spring sowing, the earlier the better ; 

 and from about August 10 to the middle of September for summer 

 or autumn sowing. The clovers from an autumn sowing run the risk 

 of destruction by a severe winter even if slugs spare them. Should 

 there be failure from any cause, more seed must be sown in the 

 following spring. 



MODE OF SOWING. The seed is more likely to be evenly distri- 

 buted by two sowings than by one, however skilful and practised the 

 sower may be ; and the second sowing should cross the first at right 

 angles. As lawn grass seeds are small and light they are readily 

 blown to a distance by a high wind : a quiet time should be chosen, 

 and the workman should keep his hand low. After the seed is sown 

 the whole plot must be raked once more with the object of slightly 

 covering as many seeds as possible. Those which are deeply buried 

 will not germinate, and those which are exposed may be scorched by 

 the sun, or consumed by birds. As a finish put the roller over 

 twice, crossing the land, and it must be done carefully, for on 

 every spot which the roller misses the grasses will fail. The result of 

 good work will leave the surface as smooth and true as a billiard 

 table. 



WORM CASTS. In a very short time a thick sprinkling of worm 

 casts will be observed. We have no intention of calling in question 



