THE LAWN: MAKING AND MANAGEMENT 103 



at which time the surface should be well swept with a stiff 

 broom in order to remove all stones and rubbish, which, if 

 allowed to remain, would cause injury to the mowing-machine 

 or scythe. 



Management Allow the grass a little grace before mowing 

 it for the first time to encourage root action, and if the spring 

 be hot and dry, once a fortnight will be sufficient to mow 

 during April and May. If possible, the lawn should be rolled 

 every time it is mown during the first summer. If grass seed 

 is sown, obtain it from a reliable firm, because some samples 

 contain a large percentage of plantain and other rubbish. 

 April and September are the best months for sowing, and the 

 quantity of seed required is from half-a-pound to one pound 

 to the rod, or from three to six bushels to the acre. Well 

 tread or roll the surface, and sow the seed quickly broadcast, 

 afterwards covering it with fine soil and again rolling. As 

 chaffinches and small birds are fond of grass seeds, it will be 

 advisable to give it protection until the plants make their 

 appearance. Covering the ground with bushy Pea rods 

 answers well. When the grass is in active growth, give a 

 moderate dressing of an improved fertiliser whilst the ground 

 is moist with rain. When the grass has grown three or 

 four inches high cut and roll it. Lawns that soon suffer 

 from hot sun, owing to the soil being shallow or sandy, 

 should receive a liberal dressing of fine soil and artificial 

 manure annually. Mix the manure with the soil, and spread 

 it evenly over the surface, about half an inch thick, in January 

 or early in February. Rain will then wash in the manure and 

 most of the soil, and if the grass is well swept and rolled early 

 in April, previous to mowing, its density will be increased and 

 the quality improved. Where the soil is fairly deep and good 

 the turf will remain in good condition for an indefinite period, 

 if well attended to, but on shallow, hungry soil it wears out 

 in time, even if top dressed annually. The only course then 

 open is to remove the soil to a depth of at least twelve inches, 

 replace it with the best soil procurable, and after levelling 

 and rolling, either turf it over or sow it with the finest lawn 

 mixture. When good soil and seed are used few daisies, 

 plantain, and other weeds occur. Grass seeds can hardly be 

 sown too thickly for making new or renovating old lawns. 

 For light or shallow soil it is always advisable to mix a fair 

 quantity of clover with the grass seed, as, being of dense 

 growth, it prevents the surface soil from becoming parched. 



Weeds. Daisies and other weeds should be eradicated. 

 Bentley's lawn sand, if applied according to printed directions 

 sent with each bag or tin, is a potent destroyer of them. 



