46 PETER HENDERSON & CO.—LAWN GRASS SEED. 
SS = we ge pense es ae 
CAN BE OBTAINED BY SOWING OUR 
a mixture composed of selected grasses, identical with those forming the lawns of New York’s famous Park. If 
the instructions here given are carefully followed, the seed we offer will be certain to produce a fine sward, 
HOW TO MAKE A LAWN. 
In nearly all cases the preparation of the lawn should be preliminary to the laying out of flower-beds, and 
especially so in the case of grounds having pretentions to what is called landscape gardening. The formation of 
the lawn is too often hastily and imperfectly done. It is the foundation of all subsequent operations, and if badly 
done at first the fault can never be remedied afterward. The first thing to be done is to get the ground shaped 
to the desired grade, taking care in grading that when hills or rocks are removed, sufficient subsoil is also re- 
moved to be replaced with top soil, so that at least five inches of good soil will overlay the whole in all places. 
When the grading is finished, if the nature of the ground requires it, drains should be laid wherever necessary ; 
then the whole should be thoroughly plowed, a subsoil following in the wake of the common plow, until it is com- 
pletely pulverized. A heavy harrow should-then be applied until the surface is thoroughly fined down ; all stones, 
roots, etc., should be removed so that a smooth surface may be obtained. 
The lawn is now ready to be sown. When the seed is sown, a light harrow should be again applied, and 
after that a thorough rolling given, so that the surface is made as smooth and firm as possible. In the latitude of 
New York, the seed may be sown any time during the months of April and May, and will form a good lawn by ~ 
August if the preparation has been good. If sown in the hot months of June or July, a sprinkling of oats should 
be sown at the same time so that the shade given by the oats will protect the young grass from the sun. Lawns 
are very often sown during the early fall months (September being the best) with excellent results. In our ex- 
tensive experience we have found that the formula for seed for lawn grass which we call the ** Central Park”” Mixture 
is in all respects the best. For small plots, of course, digging, trenching, and raking must be done instead of 
plowing, subsoiling, and harrowing. In sloping banks it is often necessary to use sod, as the rains wash the soil 
off before the grass seed has time to germinate. It is sometimes even necessary in sodding very steep banks to use 
pins eight or ten inches in length to pin the sods in place, to prevent them from being washed down by excessive 
rains before the grass roots have had time to fasten in the soil. 
As a guide for the proper quantity to order we may state that one quart of ‘Central Park Lawn Grass,” is 
sufficient to thoroughly sow an area of 20 feet by 15 feet—300 square feet, or to cover an acre, five bushels will be 
required. It should be borne in mind, that in order to produce the best results, grass seed for lawns should be 
sown at least twice as thickly as if sown for hay. Those desiring fuller instruction can obtain it by referring to 
the article ‘‘ Formation and Renovation of Lawns,” in Peter Henderson’s New Book, ‘*Garden and Farm Topics.” 
Price ‘Central Park” Lawn Grass, 25c. per quart, $1.50 per peck, $5.00 per bushel. (If by mail add roc, to 
quart price.) Prices for larger quantities on application. 
