66 The Horticulturist's Rule- Book. 



Weeds in Lawns, continued. 



seed. Clean june-grass, or blue-grass, seed is usually best. 

 Grass-seed should be sown very thickly — 2 to 4 bu. to the 

 acre— and annual weeds cannot persist long. Frequent 

 mowings during summer will keep the weeds down, and 

 most species will not survive the winter. In old lawns most 

 perennial weeds can be kept down by frequent mowings with 

 a good lawn-mower. Grass can stand more cutting than 

 weeds. If mowing cannot be practiced often enough for this 

 purpose, the weeds may be cut off below the surface with a 

 long knife or spud, and the crowns are then readily pulled 

 out. Or a little sulphuric acid — oil of vitrol — may be poured 

 upon the crown of each plant. 

 3. Weeds on Walks. —Walks should be so made that weeds can- 

 not grow in them. This can be done by making a deep stone 

 foundation and filling between the stones with cinders, coal 

 ashes, or other similar material. But when weeds become 

 established they can be destroyed by the following methods : 



Salt.— Hot brine (1 lb. of salt to 1 gal. of water), boiled 

 in a kettle on wheels and dipped out into watering-pots. 

 Brine is better than dry salt, because it leaves very little 

 color upon the walk. 



Lime ad Sulphur. — 10 gals, of water, 20 lbs. of quick-lime 

 and 2 lbs. flowers of sulphur are boiled in an iron vessel. 

 After settling, the clear part is dipped off and used when 

 needed. Care must be taken, as it will destroy edgings. 



Oil of Vitriol. — 1 part oil of vitriol (sulphuric acid) to 30 

 parts of water. Apply with a watering-pot. Choose a clear 

 evening after a hot day. Keep clear of the edgings. The 

 pot should be well painted, or a wooden pail should be used. 



Arsenite of Soda. — Place 1 lb. of powdered arsenic in 3 

 gals, of cold water, boil and keep stirring; then add 7 gals, 

 of cold water and 2 lbs. of crushed soda; stir well while 

 boiling. Apply in dry weather. 



Carbolic Acid. — 1 oz. of carbolic acid to 1 gal. of water, 

 sprinkled over the path from a common watering-pot. Will 

 also destroy ants. 



Coal-tar Coating. — Mix coal-tar with gravel to the con- 

 sistency of mortar; spread over the path 1 to 2 in. thick; 

 cover this with gravel, then roll and add another thin coating 

 of gravel to finish. 



