/ 
July 11, 1878. 
continental seedsmen for prizes to be awarded for the best 
lawns produced with grass seeds. Some idea may be formed 
of the extent when it is stated that the whole of the large area 
known as the Trocadero, as well as a considerable portion of 
the outdoor space on the Champ de Mars, has been devoted to 
this competition. England is represented in the Trocadero by 
only two houses—i.e., Messrs. James Carter & Co., the Queen’s 
seedsmen of High Holborn, London, and Messrs. Webb of 
Wordesley ; whilst for the Continent the gauntlet is thrown 
down by the following well-known firms :—Jacqueau, Paul 
Tollard, De la Laye, Torey Vannier, Chouvet, Thibaut, Vilmorin, 
Andrieux, et Cie., and Dudony. 
The most finished amongst these are the lawns of Messrs. 
Vilmorin and M, Dudony (No. 1, fig. 5), the latter being the 
introducer of a special manure, and who is understood to 
endeayour to show by the application of his specific that 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
31 
valuable assistance can be rendered to the grass during its 
growth. This, however, remains to be seen, for although the 
lawns dressed with this manure are in a very fair condition, 
they are considered inferior to the fine even turf forming a 
large plateau on the Champ de Mars under the direction of 
Messrs. Vilmorin. 
It is on the English side, however—i.c., the large space on 
the left hand of the central dome on the Trocadero, that the 
lawns are in the finest condition, and it is to the credit of 
England to record that the only lawns in perfect order on the 
opening day (May Ist) were those of Messrs. Carter ; and it is 
to be regretted that during the heavy rains, which more or 
less prevailed at the opening ceremony, the crowds of visitors 
were allowed by the authorities to scramble over those 
lawns, treading the smooth surface in some places into an un- 
even bed of mud, and entirely destroying the fine edges. By 
Fig. 5—LAWNS AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION, 
great perseverance this damage has since been considerably 
repaired. The whole of-the three large lawns shown in the 
illustration and numbered respectively 1, 2, and 3, and com- 
prising the larger portion of the space devoted to England, are 
sown by Messrs. Carter, the smaller plots (numbered 6) being 
occupied by Messrs. Webb, whose seeds were sown some time 
later, so that it is as yet early to criticisethem. Messrs. Carter 
were specially invited by M. Hardy, the indefatigable Director 
of the French horticultural section, to sow all the remaining 
spaces on the Trocadero with their seed, including the gardens 
surrounding the cascades and fountains (Nos. 4and 5). In 
addition to this they have also sown by desire of the same 
authority the whole of the lawns on the front of the Trocadero 
building approached from the charming suburb of Passy. It 
is well known that our continental neighbours pride themselves 
on their rapid process of lawn-making, and it is certainly re- 
markable when it is remembered that Messrs. Carters’ lawns, 
sown April Sth, were cut for the first time with Ransome’s 
mowers on April 29th, or exactly three weeks from the time 
of sowing. 
It must be understood that the preparation of the land has 
been identical throughout the entire competition, the difference 
between the English and French process being in the varieties 
of seed used and the quality and purity of the samples, It is 
| 
also necessary to observe that the cultivation, and in fact the 
entire control of the lawns, was in the competitors’ hands 
until June Ist, when they were handed over to the French 
authorities. 4 
The preparation of the land is a very elaborate affair, that 
on the Trocadero especially so. It will be remembered by 
those who are familiar with Paris that the Trocadero was a 
huge hill, presenting an uneven and rocky surface, many hun- 
dreds cf loads of earth having been used to form an even 
surface, with a top-dressing of what is called “terreau” by 
the Parisian gardener, and which appears to be the exhausted 
beds of manure and soil upon which the market gardeners 
have grown their salads and similar vegetables. It is, how- 
ever, a useful dressing for the purpose. especially where the 
natural soil is poor and not readily worked into the smooth 
surface so desirable when a fine even sward is required. 
One word as to hotel charges. There is little doubt but that 
some of the large hotels in and near the Boulevards are charg- 
ing exorbitantly, but there are plenty of good hotels where 
every comfort can be had at reasonable rates. One of the 
best of these is the Grand Hotel du Rhone in the Rue J. J. Rous- 
seau. There you can reside at a fixed rate per day, board and 
lodging and everything (except wines) included, at from 15 to 
20 frances per day (12s. to 16s.). Nearly all the servants as 
