A NEW IDEA FOR LAWN EDGING 21 



months. The small stones picked from borders can also be saved. 

 In the spring, when the grass begins to grow, a start can be made. 

 All that is wanted is a sack of Portland cement, and as much 4-inch 

 wood bordering as will extend the whole length of the proposed per- 

 manent border. First fix the wooden border in position, generally 

 some 2 or 3 inches from the grass, as the lawn will be found to 

 have receded quite this much. Sink the bottom edge of wood a 

 good inch below level of path, and keep it in position by nailing 

 it to stakes driven into the path. These stakes may be any odd 

 bits of wood, for they will only be in use Jong enough for the 

 permanent border to harden. 



Now take ashes, etc., and mix dry with Portland cement in pro- 

 portion of 5 parts ashes to 1 part of cement. When thoroughly 

 mixed, moisten well, and mix again until every bit of mixture is 

 uniformly moist. Place the concrete between the grass and the 

 wood, shaping it into right-angled triangular shape. If the con- 

 crete is too soft it will not keep up, but wait a little and trowel it up 

 again, when it will be found to stay where it is wanted. When the 

 whole length is finished, take a piece of wood, say 2 inches by 3 

 inches, and inch thick, and nail another strip on the under side (see 

 sketch Fig. la). Resting this on top of wood border, push it gently 

 along the top of the concrete. This will cut off the sharp top and 

 leave the border in its final shape (see sketch Fig. 2). The border 

 must now be left to harden. The wood may be taken away after 

 forty-eight hours, as the cement hardens quicker for its removal ; but 

 if the border is likely to be injured by passers-by, the wood should be 

 allowed to remain for quite a week. In any case, it is not important 

 that the wood should be taken up, as the grass can be treated at the 

 end of the forty -eight hours. 



The space between concrete and grass now remains to be filled up. 

 This can of course be done by using soil and lawn seed, and is a very 

 simple matter. But a better way is to dig a spit along the edge, 

 trying to use the spade at the same angle as the concrete is moulded. 

 The spit can then be turned round, and will exactly fit the border, 

 making a fairly firm edge at once. The trench left after this can then 

 be filled with soil and seed, and will very quickly recover, as there 

 is grass on either side (Fig. 3). One bag of cement will do 150 feet of 

 border if used in proportion 1 to 5, and will cost 3s. There is a 

 great deal of prejudice against the use of furnace ashes and clinker, 

 but experience has shown the writer that a very strong concrete can 

 be made with them. A border made as described above is giving 



