Moss on Lawns 



poverty of soil. The remedy for lack of drainage 

 is obvious, and the constant presence of a super- 

 abundance of water in the soil often results in sour- 

 ness. Sourness is probably due to the production 

 of organic acids by the action of bacteria, which 

 work best in the absence of air, and of a suitable 

 base to combine with the acids. The cause of its 

 production being removed it is necessary also to 

 remove the acid. Soil acidity may be discovered 

 by a simple test. A fair sample of the soil is obtained 

 by taking portions from various parts of the ground, 

 mixing them thoroughly (best done by allowing 

 them to dry and crumbling them up together), and 

 taking a sample of the bulk. This sample is 

 moistened with pure water, and a piece of blue 

 Htmus-paper is laid in close contact with the moist 

 soil and left for half an hour under a tumbler. If 

 at the end of that time the litmus-paper has acquired 

 a distinctly red tint the soil is acid. The remedy for 

 soil acidity is hme, and a dressing of powdered chalk 

 wiU often help to encourage the grass and oust the 

 moss. Use it in autumn at the rate of 1-2 tons to 

 the acre (|-1 lb. to the square yard, or 15-30 lbs. to 

 the square rod). 



The third source of a mossy condition is poverty 

 of soil. This is always likely to arise where the 

 lawn is mown regularly and the clippings removed, 

 and such lawns benefit by an annual spring dressing 

 of good sifted loam, sandy loam answering the 



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