Gardening for Amateurs 



21 



surface with sifted turfy soil, and if heavy 

 add a liberal dressing of sand or grit, while 

 manures are also necessary to supply plant 

 foods. Bone meal, to which a little kainit 

 has been added (say 1 in 5), is excellent, 

 and 2 to 3 oz. per square yard in autumn 

 represents the limit to use. Guano can also 

 be employed, like the above, in autumn, or 

 a mixture containing 4 parts superphosphate, 



2 parts kainit, and 1 part sulphate of ammonia 

 may be applied immediately after mixing 

 in the month of February, at the rate of 



3 to 4 oz. per square yard. Basic slag is an 

 excellent fertiliser for heavy soils, though it 

 encourages the growth of clover. Apply 

 in autumn at 6 oz. per square yard, and 

 kainit may be added at the same time at 

 half that rate. Wood ashes supply potash 

 and other salts, and their use is advan- 

 tageous if they can be had in quantity ; 

 don't put soot on a lawn, as some gardeners 

 occasionally do. Fine leaf-mould or sifted 

 compost enriched with old, dry manure, 

 is a good fertilising top dressing for early 

 spring. 



Water should always be given during a 

 drought, and in this respect let it be remem- 

 bered that occasional driblets are worse than 

 useless. A good soaking is highly desirable, 

 and need not monopolise too much time, 

 for some firms sell patent sprayers which 

 may be set going and left alone to shower a 

 misty spray of the very finest and most re- 

 freshing nature over the whole lawn. The 

 lawn demands constant attention, especially 

 during late spring and summer, and only by 

 attending to its needs as described can 

 satisfaction be obtained. 



The fine cuttings thrown out by the laun 

 mower are an excellent non-conductor of 

 heat, and, if left on the lawn, will prevent 

 scorching, while decaying into plant foods 

 for the growing herbage. 



Renovating the Lawn. Lawns some- 

 times become patchy in spite of all that can 

 be done, but if timely top dressing, as 

 advised above, is carried out, thnv m-cd 

 be little fear of this. Ground lime mixed 

 with the soil dressings is occasionally advised, 

 but this should be given with caution in 

 case the surface becomes sticky and slippery ; 

 basic slag, at the rate of 6 oz. per square yard, 

 usually supplies sufficient lime as well M 



phosphorus. Top dressings are best given 

 in autumn, so that by the time the lawn is 

 in use the substances have been well washed 

 into the soil. Whenever a small part gets 

 bare, take up the turf, fork the soil over, 

 forking in a little decayed manure at the 

 same time ; then spread some fine sifted 

 compost on top, sow it with grass seeds, 

 rake and oil firm. Watering at weekly 

 intervals with a solution of nitrate of soda 

 containing | oz. to the gallon of water will 

 do much to assist those patchy parts where 

 the grass seems to grow slowly. A great 

 improvement is often noticed if in March 

 the unsatisfactory part is raked over, not 

 too severely, a light top dressing added, and 

 seed sown thinly ; roll this afterwards, and 

 keep it watered until the grass is thoroughly 

 established. 



Cracks may appear across the lawn in dry 

 seasons, more especially when they are newly 

 made. The best remedy is to spread plenty 



i 



Preserving the lawn verge from damage by 

 the wheelbarrow: (1) the wooden edge, 

 (2) shown in use. 



