18 THE FLORIST AND 



"who attempt it. In the majority of cases the "lawn" is for the most part 

 made up of coarse, unsightly weeds, or perhaps becomes Brown and parched 

 in appearance half the season. Frequently this arises from the work being 

 only half done in the beginning, and future neglect makes up the rest. The 

 best mode of obtaining a good lawn surface is to turf it over, choosing the 

 "sods" from some old pasture. This is the cheapest mode too, in the end, if 

 performed by those who understand it well. The other and most common 

 way is to sow the seed, which, so far as my experience goes, seldom gives sa- 

 tisfaction, and is in many cases a source of continual annoyance and vexa- 

 tion, by the crop. of weeds which springs up, frequently occupying the 

 ground entirely to the exclusion of the grass. In some cases, where the 

 lawn is of very great extent, and not immediately under the eye, seeding 

 may be judicious; but in that case every care should be taken to have the 

 ground thoroughly clean previously. It would be no ultimate loss if the 

 ground were left unoccupied for a whole season, and kept constantly har- 

 rowed to keep out the weeds; and if any should after this come up amongst 

 the grass, to have them pulled out thoroughly by hand. A little care and 

 cost of this kind bestowed on the ground for the first few years, will be am- 

 ply repaid. Whether the ground is to be turfed or seeded, it should be loos- 

 ened up deeply. If by the plough, the subsoil plough should be employed; 

 much of its green appearance in the summer season will depend on this 

 course. It is not necessary that the ground should be particularly rich to 

 produce a good surface, but it must on no account be poor. A deep, cool, 

 sandy loam is a good bed to operate upon. It should not either incline to 

 moisture, or coarse, rough herbage will be the consequence. Constant mow- 

 ing, rolling, and sweeping of the surfa-ce and occasional top dressings of 

 light manure, are then all that is sufficient to preserve it in winter. 



What flowers are to fill each of the flower beds where they are grown in 

 masses have probably been determined on in the fall, and preparation made 

 accordingly. An eye should still be kept on the stock to see that it is suffi- 

 cient, and where deficiencies are expected, a few additionals struck off to 

 meet the occasion. Hyacinths, tulips, and other bulbs planted in the tail for 

 spring flowering, are frequently drawn near the surface by the frost. It is 

 well to place a covering of a few inches of half-rotten leaves or similar pro- 

 tection over them. The frost will not hurt them beneath the surface ; but 

 frequent freezings and thawings soon destroy them. Half hardy trees and 

 shrubs also, that may seem to stand out well even to the present time of the 

 season, are often benefitted by being protected a little from the sun towards 

 spring. Plants will endure some considerable amount more of cold at this 

 season than they will at the spring of the year. 



