LAWN AND DOCKYARD 



oped two or three varieties with especial refer- 

 ence to their utility as substitutes for lawn grass. 

 When Mr. Burbank first procured the seed of the 

 wild species he observed a good deal of variation 

 among the seedlings, and in the second season 

 he raised about ten thousand plants, each one of 

 which was given a little space in order that its 

 individual peculiarities as to rapidity of growth, 

 tendency to spread, and color of foliage might be 

 tested. 



From among these ten thousand plants about 

 half a dozen were saved, and the descendants of 

 these constitute several varieties of lippias that 

 have striking peculiarities. One of these will 

 spread on an ordinary soil over a circle about 

 ten feet in diameter. This form, Mr. Burbank 

 points out, would be very valuable for growing 

 in sunny places, and in particular along irrigat- 

 ing ditches or river banks where the soil is sub- 

 ject to wash. Other varieties grow less rapidly, 

 but have small leaves that lie very close to the 

 ground, making a most beautiful and satisfactory 

 velvety lawn. 



There is a marked difference in color in the 

 different varieties, so that charming contrasts may 

 be produced by planting different portions of the 

 lawn with different varieties. 



In addition to their rapid and compact growth, 

 Mr. Burbank 's perfected lippias are adapted to 

 dry soil, requiring not one-tenth the water that 

 blue-grass or other ordinary lawn grass requires, 

 and keeping in good condition with a fraction of 



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