CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



grasses for a lawn, being the proper 

 amount to seed one-half acre, viz.: — 

 Kentucky Blue Grass, 5 lbs ; Red 

 Top, 5 lbs.; Timothy, 3 lbs.; Perennial 

 Rye Grass, 5 lbs.; Sweet Vernal Grass, 

 2 lbs.; White Clover, 2 lbs. He de- 

 fends the use of the Timothy because 

 it grows rapidly, and forms a good 

 shade for the weaker grasses, to which 

 it eventually gives place. After sow- 

 ing the ground should be raked or 

 rolled, both for the effectual covering 

 of the seed, and for the obtaining of a 

 perfectly level surface. 



Of course for a small yard sodding 

 might be recommended as the quickest 

 way to secure a good lawn, in wliich 

 case a sod of blue grass, or of some 

 other thick -set grass should be selected ; 

 but that method is altogether too ex- 

 pensive to be thought of in a large yard. 



The first mowing should be done be- 

 fore the grass is too high for the lawn- 



mower, say about the middle of June, 

 and thereafter at least once a week, 

 Thus if the seeding has been well and 

 thoroughly done, you will be surprised 

 to find how soon you will have a good 

 sod. The frequent mowing will de- 

 stroy all weeds that are annuals, but 

 the perennials will require to be dealt 

 with in a more summary manner. A 

 plan for their destruction is to take an 

 old pruning-knife and cut them 

 off an inch or two below the sur- 

 face of the ground ; thus, with a 

 little patient work they also may be 

 mastered. 



A plan of the grounds should be 

 made out during the leisure of the 

 winter season, and the trees and shrubs 

 selected for grouping. In another 

 number we will give a list of 

 some of the more desirable varie- 

 ties that are hardy enough to plant in 

 Canada. 



SOME PROMINENT CANADIAN HORTICULTURISTS.-L 



ALEXANDER McD. ALLAN, 

 President of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association. 



IT is with pleasure that we begin a 

 series of personal sketchesof a few 

 of our prominent Canadian fruit- 

 growers and gardeners. Why should 

 not the names and the deeds of those 

 gentlemen who have originated new 

 and improved varieties of fruits, or who 

 have aided in the development of one 

 of the most important industries of our 

 country, be handed down through the 

 pages of our journal for the grateful 

 consideration of succeeding generations 

 who shall profit by their labors ? Why 

 is not an engraving of the originator 

 of a fruit or flower as full of interest to 



our readers as the flower or fruit he 

 has originated ? Confident of an 

 aflirmative answer, we proceed with the 

 series. 



There is at the present time no more 

 prominent Canadian horticulturist than 

 Mr. A. McD. Allan, of Goderich, On- 

 tario. Now, for the second time, elected 

 President of the Fruit-Growers' As- 

 sociation of Ontario, he presides with 

 ability over its meetings, and constantly 

 gives its members the benefit of his ex- 

 tensive practical knowledge concerning 

 the cultivation, packing, and marketing 

 of fruits. Many of our readers will re- 



