186 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



latter will render it firmer, closer, shorter, and finer every time it is 

 repeated. 



A good lawn must be mown every ten days or fortnight. The 

 latter may be assumed as the proper average time in this climate. 

 Ten days is the usual limit of growth for the best kept lawns in 

 England, and it is surprising how soon a coarse and wiry bit of 

 sward will become smooth turf, under the magic influences of 

 regular and oft repeated mowing and rolling. 



Of course, a lawn can only be cut when the grass is damp, and 

 rolling is best performed directly after rain. The English always 

 roll a few hours before using the scythe. On large lawns, a donkey 

 or light horse may be advantageously employed in performing this 

 operation. 



There are but few good lawns yet in America ; but we have 

 great pleasure in observing that they are rapidly multiplying. 

 Though it may seem a heavy tax to some, yet no expenditure in 

 ornamental gardening is, to our mind, productive of so much beau- 

 ty as that incurred in producing a well-kept lawn. Without this 

 feature, no place, however great its architectural beauties, its charms 

 of scenery, or its collections of flowers and shrubs, can be said to 

 deserve consideration in point of landscape gardening ; and with it 

 the humble cottage grounds will possess a charm which is, among 

 pleasure-grounds, what a refined and graceful manner is in society 

 a universal passport to admiration. 



There are two residences in this country which so far surpass all 

 others in the perfection of their lawns, that we hope to be pardoned 

 for holding them up to commendation. These are the UPPER 

 LIVINGSTON MANOR, the seat of Mrs. Mary Livingston, about 

 seven miles from Hudson, N. Y., and the CAMAC COTTAGE, neai 

 Philadelphia.* 



The lawn at the Livingston Manor is very extensive and park 

 like certainly the largest well-kept lawn in America, and we wish 

 all our readers who are skeptical regarding an American lawn, 

 could see and feel its many excellent perfections. They would only 



* See Downing's " Landscape Gardening," pp. 45, 58. 



