November Autumn Work for Summer 



vigorous tap-rooted kinds, since they spread quickly, 

 smothering the surrounding grass and, if not destroyed, 

 eventually taking its place. Chief among fibrous-rooted 

 weeds are Chickweed, Pearlwort and Daisy, while some- 

 times Selfheal (Prunella) is troublesome. Some of these 

 may, to a considerable extent, be removed by means of an 

 iron-toothed rake. Subsequently there is nothing better 

 than a dressing of lawn sand now and again in early 

 April ; this is particularly useful in getting rid of Daisies. 

 Its effect is to turn the grass brown, but it quickly 

 recovers in spring and early summer. Weeds rarely 

 spread if the lawn is regularly manured, as it too seldom 

 is, for it is only when the grass becomes thin and weakly 

 that weeds are able to make headway. An excellent 

 autumn dressing for the lawn consists of a mixture of 5 

 parts bonemeal and 1 part kainit or wood ashes, applied 

 at the rate of 2 oz. per square yard. Some of the 

 quick-acting, proprietary fertilisers, such as guano 

 and Clay's Fertilizer, are excellent for application in 

 spring and early summer, and have a marked effect 

 on the growth of the grass. Lawn sand may be 

 made by mixing ^ Ib. of sulphate of iron (copperas), 

 1J Ib. of sulphate of ammonia and 12 Ibs. of sand. The 

 chemicals must be ground to a powder and thoroughly 

 mixed with the sand. 



Moss on the Lawn. The presence of moss 011 the 

 lawn indicates either that the ground needs draining or 

 that the soil is poor. The moss should be raked off with 

 an iron-toothed rake, the places then being dressed 

 with sulphate of iron, J oz. per square yard, and finally 

 given a light covering of sifted soil with which lime and 

 wood ashes to the extent of one-fourth of the whole have 

 been mixed. If in spring bare patches show, seed must 

 be sown there. Sand forms a useful dressing for the 

 lawn in autumn, especially on heavy land. Basic slag is 

 often recommended, though its use encourages the spread 

 of clover. The best way to get rid of clover is to use 



69 



