1 90 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



should be well rubbed in, and on no account allowed to lie on the 

 surface. 



" Worms In the Soil. Remove all worms from the soil, as a true 

 playing surface is absolutely impossible when they are allowed to 

 burrow and throw up their casts all over the surface. By their removal 

 a firm, true, clean, and level surface is obtained, which could never have 

 been got if they had been allowed to remain in the soil. It may, to 

 some people, seem like heresy when I say remove the worms, as it has 

 always been held that worms are the natural drainers of the soil, and 

 that if they are removed the ground will become waterlogged and the 

 turf die out ; but this idea is all wrong, and I have proved it so. I 

 strongly advise the removal of every worm if possible. The most 

 effective, simple, safe, and non-poisonous worm eradicator I have found 

 is that supplied by Messrs. James Carter & Co. 



"Mowing. I now come to a very important part of the winter 

 treatment of the grass on a tennis court, or, indeed, of any lawn, 

 namely, mowing and rolling. I shall take the case of the mowing 

 first, as I consider it the most important. There is a mistaken idea 

 that if the grass is kept cut short during the winter months, the frost 

 and cold will surely kill it. Now, I wish to point out that this is all 

 wrong, and I strongly advise the mowing of the grass. When I say 

 this, I mean that it ought not to be allowed to grow any longer than 

 what it was in the playing season ; in other words, keep it as close as 

 possible and always mow when it requires it, as it will harden the grass, 

 make it thicken out, and, when the playing season comes round, the 

 surface will be a great deal more truer and firmer from the commence- 

 ment. If, on the other hand, the grass is allowed to grow without 

 being mown, it will get thin, and when the spring comes the greenkeeper 

 has practically to set about doing his best to manufacture a new playing 

 surface. 



"Rolling in Winter. The other point is rolling, and this is 

 hardly less important than the mowing. How often does one see, 

 after heavy rain, the iron roller at work for all it is worth to, if you 

 ask, make a nice, smooth surface ! A good piece of turf can very 

 easily be ruined by the injudicious use of the roller, especially during 

 the wet winter months. I have seen lawns and tennis courts which I 

 have been told a few years before were in perfect condition that had 

 got into a very bad state indeed, and this has nearly always been 

 caused to a great extent through using too heavy a roller and also 

 using it at the wrong time. Never, especially in winter, roll the grass 

 with a heavy iron roller when the surface is wet, as it is simply ruination 

 to the lawn. Keep the grass cut short, and roll when the surface is 

 dry (not wet) if a good, clean piece of turf is desired. The foregoing 

 hints are what I practise myself, and which I find the most suitable 

 for what is aimed at a true, firm carpet of turf." 



