KINDS OF LAWN GRASS 389 



tilizers are easy to apply, contain no weed seeds, and may 

 be readily procured. Some of the most popular forms of 

 commercial fertilizers for lawns are ground bone, wood 

 ashes, and high-grade complete fertilizers. 



Kinds of Lawn Grass. --The best grass for lawns is 

 the Kentucky blue grass. Although this grass is rather 

 slow in starting, it produces a permanent lawn of fine 

 texture and of a rich green color. The crown of the plant 

 sets very close to the ground and thus permits close clip- 

 ping. After getting well established, Kentucky blue grass 

 spreads very rapidly by underground rootstalks. 



Of the rapid growing kinds that may be used for quick 

 effect English rye grass is one of the best. Although coarse 

 in leaf it starts rapidly into growth, and covers the ground 

 which might otherwise be taken up by weeds. Redtop 

 is another quick-growing grass, producing a good lawn ef- 

 fect the first season. It is of finer texture than rye grass 

 but does not grow so rapidly. It is especially valuable 

 upon poorer soils, in which it seems to thrive better than 

 most other grasses. White clover is frequently used on 

 lawns and makes very rapid growth. A mixture of blue 

 grass, redtop, and white clover is excellent for new lawns. 

 Bermuda grass is especially popular in the Southern States, 

 but is easily killed by frosts. On very sandy soil the 

 Rhode Island bent grass thrives well, while in very shady 

 places the woodland meadow grass may be used. 



Grass seed is likely to contain weed seeds that will prove 

 troublesome. It is best to buy lawn grass seed from a re- 

 liable seedsman and to purchase only the purest grades on 

 the market. If a large quantity is to be secured, a sample 

 should be sent to the state experiment station to be tested 

 for purity. 



