20 



Gardening for Amateurs 



the digging operation. With virgin soil or 

 soil which is inclined to be lumpy and rough 

 it might prove advantageous to add 1 or 2 

 inches of fine compost, and to rake this evenly 

 across the surface, but at any rate a fine 

 tilth must be obtained by raking frequently. 

 Whenever a good surface is secured begin to 

 sow the grass seed. A verge of firm turf is 

 highly desirable unless there is an edging of 

 some kind, otherwise make the lawn a few 

 inches longer each way than it should be, 

 and cut it to size when the grass is growing 

 and the ground firm. 



Lawn seed mixtures are easily obtained, 

 but amateurs must be warned that they 

 should purchase from a reliable source, even 



1| square yards is a good average application. 

 Carry out the work on a calm day, and if the 

 soil is not too firm tie flat pieces of wood to 

 the feet to prevent the soil sticking to the 

 boots. Rake it over gently so as to bury 

 the seed, and, if bird pests threaten to do 

 damage, stretch black cotton across it, hang 

 pieces of zinc on string, or erect other scares 

 to keep them off. Growth will soon com- 

 mence, and when the grass is 3 or 4 inches 

 high draw the roller over it carefully. Don't 

 be in too big a hurry to mow the young 

 grass, and if possible use a scythe. Failing 

 this, see that the blades of the mowing 

 machine are sharp and set high. 



Care of the Lawn. In early spring roll 



*' r: L I N E. TO CUT THE TURF. 



OLD BROI 



OLD BROKEN EDG-E. FILLED IN WITH <soiu 

 '*- ' NEW EDGE OF "LAWN ^'^ 'f 



':;'. WALK I . -.*; 



Showing how a worn grass edge is renovated: a strip of turf is taken up, the worn edges 

 being placed the reverse way, thus bringing the newly cut margin near the walk. "With 

 the help of a little fresh soil and grass seed the space between the broken edge and 

 the lawn is soon made good. 



though the seed prove a little more expensive, 

 rather than run the risk of seeing a dis- 

 appointing crop of unsuitable herbage. Many 

 things affect the selection of lawn seed mix- 

 ture, for one prescription does not do for all 

 lawns. Describe the lie of the lawn, the 

 nature of the soil, whether exposed or not, 

 and the purpose for which it is intended, to a 

 first-class seedsman so that he may vary his 

 mixture accordingly. Clovers are not always 

 desired, and the purchaser's wishes in this 

 respect should be mentioned to the dealer, 

 while the coarse-growing Yarrow or Milfoil, 

 though good enough in some cases, is often 

 disappointing as an ingredient of the mixture. 

 Sow the seed uniformly from east to west, 

 and from north to south. Thin sowing is 

 false economy. One ounce of seed to every 



the lawn every week ; should wormcasts 

 be numerous, sweep them vigorously, then 

 the fine soil will get spread among the grass 

 and rolled in. If the grass does not seem 

 to come very strongly apply a little nitrate 

 of soda or sulphate of ammonia, say about 

 \ oz. per square yard. Cut the grass as 

 frequently as possible during spring and 

 early summer, at least once a week, never 

 letting it become long or much of its fine 

 closeness will be lost. Some gardeners 

 always recommend cutting the first time 

 with a scythe, and the practice has much 

 to be said on its behalf. 



Manure for the Lawn. Lawns get 

 worn out, and nothing benefits them more 

 than an autumn or spring dressing of some 

 kind. When the soil is light, mulch the 



