144 
THE GARDEN oO A Cl neNEE 
APRIL, 1916 
Henry S. Dawson, Manager 
And Cuts An Acre An Hour 
LL you have to do to a Coldwell ““Walk Type’’ Motor Mower is 
follow and guide. A powerful little motor geared to 4 miles an hour, 
drives a demountable cutter 40 inches wide up any grade up to 25%. 
Three sizes, rolling weights, 500 to 1100 pounds. Chain drive, bronze 
bearings, directly lubricated. No torn turf. Costs a quarter a day for fuel. 
The Coldwell ‘“Threesome”’ is a triple mower, drawn by one horse, 
cutting an 87-inch swath. Takes care of itself. Flexible, strong and 
mechanically ’way ahead of any other wide mower. 
Other leaders of the Coldwell line are the Combination Roller and 
Motor Mower (Ride Type); Coldwell Horse Mowers, with de- 
mountable cutters; and Coldwell Putting Green Mowers—of various 
types—light draft, fine cutting. 
Write for particulars. 
COLDWELL LAWN MOWER COMPANY 
NEWBURGH, N. Y. 
Branch: 62 East Lake Street, Chicago 
Wilson’s New Honeysuckle 
LONICERA MAACKII 
The finest of all the Bush Honeysuckles, beautiful in fruit, which it 
holds through December. Price $1.00 each; $10.00 per dozen. 
EASTERN NURSERIES 
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts 
If a problem grows in your garden write to the Readers’ Service for assistance 
Alfalfa as a Lawn Grass 
(hea es are probably few rural home-build- 
ers in this state who realize that alfalfa is 
a most acceptable lawn grass. Where pressure 
water is not available, or where the time of the 
resident does not permit of the intensive water- 
ing and care necessary to most lawn mixtures, 
this useful plant will thrive and become a 
really great factor in beautifying the home 
grounds. 
If irrigation or “ditch” water is available, as 
it is on most farms, the lawn may be sunken 
somewhat below the level of the walks and bor- 
ders and then “flooded” if perfectly level, or 
contour irrigated if not. It may be treated to a 
thorough spraying once a month, or even left 
dry in regions where the rainfall is distributed 
through the year, and will thrive to a remark- 
able degree. If well cared for the first year so 
that it becomes thoroughly rooted, it will then 
withstand more abuse in this respect, while 
still making a creditable showing, than any 
A well established alfalfa lawn will stand considerable 
abuse and still maintain a good appearance 
plant I know of. When thoroughly sodded, al- 
falfa will allow of considerable tramping with- 
out noticeable signs of injury, so that a lawn 
of this legume makes a very suitable play- 
ground for children. 
In planting an alfalfa lawn it is necessary to 
have a good seed-bed. The soil should he thor- 
oughly spaded to a good depth and well pul- 
verized. If stall manure is to be had it may 
well be worked into the soil a month or more 
before planting. If other clovers or related 
legumes are not indigenous treat the seed with 
some standard inoculation. The top soil should 
be raked smooth and the seed broadcasted on it 
at the rate of ten pounds to each 10,000 square 
feet. This can be worked in with the rake, the 
soil having been thoroughly wet before planting. 
It should not be wet again until the alfalfa has 
assed through its two-leaf or “seed-leat” stage. 
t will be found that the roots penetrate down- 
ward faster and further than the tops reach 
upward. 2 phe 
When the grass is five or six inches high it 
should be cut with a lawn mower, setting the 
blades to cut as high as possible. Cutting at 
the right time is very important if a good 
lawn is to result. If the tops are allowed to de- 
velop beyond the control of a lawn mower the 
main stem of the plant becomes hard and woody 
and the soft, smooth surface, so desirable in a 
lawn, is forever lost. Then, too, when cut 
young and tender, the plants stool out laterally 
and form a perfect mat of soft, fragrant grass. 
The first few cuttings should be ‘left on the 
ground as a mulch. When the tops become so 
heavy as to leave a conspicuous residue after 
the mower, they may be taken up in a grass 
catcher attached to the mower and removed to 
the barn lot, where they will be readily con- 
sumed by the horses or cattle, or even the pigs 
or. chickens. 
California. BURLE JONES. 
