56 GARDENING DIFFICULTIES SOLVED 



Improving Neglected Lawn 



Q. Would you tell me what I can do with a lawn which has 

 been so neglected that the greater part consists of Plaintains. To 

 root them up looks an endless task. JJox, Wallingford. 



A. The best and most economical method of restoring a lawn is 

 to feed it every autumn or spring time. Turf requires food like all 

 other kinds of plant. Use the remains of a Cucumber bed or, better 

 still, well rotted manure. Have it finely sifted and mixed with 

 loam or soil, and give the turf a dressing of 2 Ib. to the square yard. 

 To repeat the quantity in February or March will do good. Plain- 

 tains can be removed by sulphuric acid, 1 drop to the crown of each 

 weed ; but as it is destructive of other than vegetable matter it 

 must be confined in a bottle, allowing only 1 drop to escape. 



Moss On Walks 



Q. The walks in my garden are covered with moss. "What is the 

 best way to get rid of it ? E. J. K., Wallingford. 



A . The best way to destroy moss on gravel walks is to dig the 

 gravel over, burying the moss in the bottom. Lay the gravel in 

 the best position to throw off the water, and roll it down firmly. 

 If the walk cannot be turned, sprinkle salt over the surface in 

 sufficient quantity to give it a white appearance, picking a dry 

 time for the work ; or use one of the advertised weed killers, mixed 

 in the way advised by the manufacturers. Moss is often troublesome 

 owing to the dampness of the soil ; and when this is the case nothing 

 short of draining the spot will permanently get over the difficulty. 



Top Dressing a Lawn 



Q. My lawn is thin and the grass does not seem to flourish. 

 Would a top dressing of manure improve it? if so, when should 

 this be applied 1 Lawn, Herts. 



A. The best time for doing this is the late autumn ; the early 

 part of November will be found suitable. It would be far better 

 to apply a mixture of half rotted short manure, together with an 

 equal bulk of old potting soil and a bag of soot, than to apply soot 

 as a dressing alone, for we note that the soil is chiefly sand and 

 is lacking in substance. Let the dressing be applied evenly all 

 over the surface to the depth of about 1 inch, and use about half 

 as much soot as potting soil. Leave the dressing to be washed in 

 by the rains. In late January or February the dressing should be 

 repeated. 



