SOIL AND LAWNS 



were done, should have as constant and thorough 

 attention as the garden itself. To set up one position 

 or style of lawn over all others would be useless, since 

 each individual lawn must be treated according to 

 its location, its size, and its governing characteristics. 

 To step from the veranda to a secluded greensward, 

 in which each blade of grass holds itself as proudly 

 as a plant in bloom, and to wander over it seeking, 

 perchance, the garden, is one of the exquisite pleasures 

 of life in a well-cultivated bit of country. 



At many English country homes tea is served on 

 the lawn when the increasing scent of the flowers 

 gives token of the coming twilight. In this country 

 too, more than ever before, it is now regarded as the 

 home without walls. In seasons to come, when, no 

 doubt, the ubiquitous mosquito shall have been properly 

 conquered, it is likely that lawns will be still more 

 appreciated and fostered than at present. 



The greater number of lawns in this country have 

 not, as yet, reached a high state of perfection. This 

 is owing partly to the difficulty in securing pure grass 

 seed, and also to a lack of deep culture and sustained 

 vigilance in combating weeds. Indeed, when one has 

 a warlike nature, a lawn is an excellent field in which 

 to break it; for, after a season of grappling with weeds 

 and scarce an interval to lay down arms, it is almost 

 against the natural order of things that the most mar- 

 tial spirit should not be tamed and humiliated on 

 seeing them spring up again with undiminished ardor. 

 New lawns are frequently made with selected sods 

 that soon settle in place and quickly form a good and 



[5] ' 



