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THE FLOWER GROWERS GUIDE. 



as many seeds as possible. In small plots sifted soil may be ligbtly scattered over them, 

 a heavy rolling in both directions completing the fixing of the seeds, and leaving the 

 surface quite smooth. Birds, especially sparrows and finches, must, if possible, be kept 

 away, as they are liable to carry away the seeds. Strands of thread stretched a few 

 inches above the ground have a deterrent effect; so has a mixture of dry sifted soil 

 and petroleum, the soil not being made too damp for free spreading. It may be lightly 

 scattered on at necessary intervals, as if sowing seed. 



"When seed has, perforce, to be sown during dry weather, the ground should be 

 thoroughly moistened an hour or two before sowing, and gentle waterings every 

 evening afterwards will be of great benefit. Seeds sown at a favourable time will 

 require no such attention. Directly the grasses arc long enough, they ought to be 

 "switched over" with an extra sharp scythe, repeating the operation in the course of 

 another week or ten days, and giving the ground a good rolling immediately after 

 each cutting. When well established, not before, a clean-cutting mowing machine 

 may be substituted for the scythe. Eolling, Avith close mowing, serves to keep down 

 the coarser grasses that may abound, and to favour the growth of those of a finer or 

 more desirable character. How attractive well-kept lawns are, whether level and formed 

 of weedless and finely-grassed turves, or rounded, as established by sowing appropriate 

 seeds, may be perceived on reference to the illustration on the preceding page. 



Impeoving Old Lawns. 



Innumerable old lawns require renovation, and many of them might be easily 

 improved by draining, levelling, seed sowing, and manuring. If water is very slow 

 in draining away, the hollow places remaining in a saturated state for many days 

 together, cither there are no drains or those existing are no longer effective — they 

 may be choked with tree roots or other obstructions, or the outlets blocked up. Such 

 drawbacks to the enjoyment of a lawn should be speedily remedied. After lawns have 

 been formed a few years, hollows frequently occur. If on a small scale the turf may 

 be raised and rolled back as far as needed, but not wholly detached. After adding 

 fresh soil and firming it to the proper level, unroll and return the strips to their 

 original position, finishing with a heavy beating. Larger breadths ought to be 

 wholly stripped of turf, relaying as advised after levelling the ground, subsequently 

 treating similarly to newly-turved lawns. Where the soil is naturally damp a 

 drier surface is obtained by laying the turves on a thin layer of sifted ashes. 



