MAKING AND PRESERVING LAWNS. 121 
February last. Respecting the fate of the travelers Chiarini and Cecchi, who 
left the kingdom of Shoa, two years ago with the intention of proceeding through 
Kaffa to the African equatorial lake region, the Italian authorities are still in 
some uncertainty. The last intelligence respecting them was to the effect that 
they had both reached the town of Kaffa in February, 1879 in good health, had 
been well received by the king, and were on the point of continuing their jour- 
ney to the lakes. Since then no further news has been received, and considera- 
ble uneasiness prevails, owing to the hostile attitude of the Mohammedans in 
those parts. 
MiIsSC2 hi ANEOUS: 
MAKING AND PRESERVING LAWNS. 
BY WALTER ELDER. 
To properly make a lasting lawn, and keep it in good order, taxes the highest 
skill of the horticulturist, and when well executed, is the masterpiece of orna- 
mental gardening. Without it all other improvements look insignificant. It 
forms the green carpet upon which all ornaments are to be placed, and its bright 
verdant hue imparts beauty to all. 
Instructors upon lawn making, generally advise subsoiling the ground. If 
this be done, it should be a year previous to laying down the lawn. It is not 
always best to do it, as the subsoil may be a stiff clay, or barren sand. I have 
seen subsoil brought to the surface so poor that not even beans, peas or corn 
would grow—the germs rusting and decaying away. The seeds of grasses are 
small and succeed best in mellow and fertile soil. Several species of grasses 
should be sown, and very thickly, to make a close, green turf. Red top or herd 
grass, blue grass, orchard grass and a little white Dutch clover. The land should 
be manured the the previous year to sowing the grasses. After digging or plow- 
ing, harrow or rake fine, level up all hollows, and roll firmly down. Then sow 
the grasses, rake fine or harrow, then roll again. The sowing time will be 
according to climate and latitude. Between New York and Baltimore, say from 
early March to middle of May, and from early September to early in October, and 
all the Fall after that. When grasses and weeds are well up, roll well, and let 
them all grow until the earliest weeds shoot up flower stalks, then mow down 
with the scythe or horse-mower, and scatter the cuttings evenly over the surface. 
When they wither, roll again, and then rake all off. On sandy lands the summer 
-mowings should be seldom. On sloping lands and terraces or banks, the grass 
should be let grow long in hot, dry weather, unless artificial watering is at hand. 
_ The lawn should not be weeded the first year, but cut down all weeds when they 
