THE WEED problem: INSECTS, ETC. 73 



on a blue grass lawn as the grass will make a 

 much more vigorous growth in the presence 

 of the lime. It is possible, indeed, to maintain 

 the lawn in very good average condition by 

 annual dressings of lime in the quantity here 

 advised. 



THE WORST WEED OF ALL 



Crab grass {Syntherisma or Panicum 

 sanguinale) is the worst weed enemy of the 

 lawn. It creeps over the surface in such a 

 way that it is untouched by the lawn mower, 

 yet a strenuous fight must be waged against 

 it as soon as its presence is recognised. It is an 

 annual and will reseed itself year after year 

 unless it is attacked and actually pulled out. 

 The seeds germinate in June and early Au- 

 gust and its unwelcome presence in the full 

 summer season mars what may be otherwise 

 a good lawn, by its broad pale green leaves, 

 which give a very patchy and unhappy appear- 

 ance to the general surface of the grass. As 

 soon as the cold weather approaches the 

 creeping stems of the crab grass change to a 

 bronzy red colour, which becomes more and 

 more intense as the cold increases, making 

 the lawn in the latter part of the season look 



