74 



THE FLOWER GROWERS GUIDE. 



and a coarse lawn is the inevitable result. Clover was, and is, also often too freely 

 mixed with lawn seeds. If for special reasons it is desired in lawns, the seeds ought to 

 be sown separately, for if mixed with the much lighter grass seeds, the heavier clover 

 seeds naturally sink to the bottom of the bag, the portion of ground first sown receiving 

 few of them, while the parts last sown receive ten times too many. We give an 

 example of an ancient lawn mixture which is still too largely used where fine lawns are 

 expected : — 



Agrostis stolonifera 5 lbs. 



Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dogstail) 8 ,, 



Festuca duriuscula (Fescue grass) 4 



Festuca ovina (Sljeeji's Fescue) 3 



Lolium perenne tenue (Perennial Eye-grass) 25 ,, 



Poa nemoralis (Meadow Grass) 3 



,, ,, sempervirens (Evergreen) 3 



,, pratensis (Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass) 3 ,, 



,, trivialis 3 ,, 



Trifolium repens (Creeping Clover) 9 ,, 



minus 3 ,, 



Trisetum flavesceus 1 ,, 



70 „ 



For shady positions we are told to " omit Festuca ovina and Trisetum flavescens, 

 and add an extra 2 lbs. each of Poa nemoralis and P. n. sempervirens. Trifolium 

 minus and Trisetum flavescens are unsuitable for strong, rich soils, and for these 

 substitute 3 lbs. of Cynosurus cristatus, and 1 lb. Festuca duriuscula. The Tri- 

 foliums holding moisture longer than grasses are not so well adapted for bowling 

 greens, tennis courts, and cricket pitches; but there should be no reduction in the 

 quantity of seeds sown, especially when the lawns are wanted quickly for use." 



The conditional advice may be sound, and that relating to the Trifoliums (clover) 

 certainly is ; the mixture may suffice for parks and those parts of pleasure-grounds 

 that are only kept in a semi-dressed condition ; it is too coarse for a lawn of the first 

 quality — close, soft, smooth and delightful — the result of sowing clean, sound seeds of 

 the finest grasses in the cleanest possible soil. 



After much experience in forming lawns from seed in the parks and gardens of 

 London, as well as in various parts of the country, Mr. Barr, of King Street, Covent 

 Garden, uses the following formulae : — a, for lawns of the highest quality; when a 

 cheaper mixture is desired : also one intermediate between the two. 



