IMPROVING LAWNS. 



77 



Where the grass is very thin loosen the surface of the soil with iron rakes, and then 

 sow seeds of the mixture recommended for new lawns, at the rate of a quarter to half-a- 

 pouDd to 30 square yards. Cover very lightly with fine soil and roll heavily. If 

 this is done in the autumn or early spring months a distinct improvement in the 

 quality of the turf will bo observable the following summer. 



Mossy lawns arc pleasant to walk upon at times, but are bad to cut, and the first 

 to become brown in dry weather. The spread of moss is due either to bad drainage or 

 poverty of the soil. If the drainage is defective remedy this, and the moss will gradu- 

 ally disappear. The best preventive of moss on poor soil is an occasional dressing of 

 lawn manure at the rate recommended by the vendors ; or soot may be applied during 

 shoAvery weather in the spring, at the rate of one peck or rather less to the square rod 

 (30| yards). Strong manures are liable to promote a coarser growth of grass than 

 is desirable, and in many cases a dressing (following a sharp raking) of three-parts fine 

 fresh loam, mixed with one part each of lime and wood ashes, spread to a depth of 

 half an inch, would be attended with the best results. 



In numerous instances turf has been spoilt by allowing the grass to grow to a 

 length almost suitable for making into hay before mowing, thus favouring the growth 

 of the coarser grasses at the expense of those of a finer nature. Early in the spring 

 lawns ought to be well swept on a dry day for distributing worm casts, then rolling 

 for fixing the grasses in the soil, and making all smooth for the next operation — 

 mowing. 



Weeds and Woems. 



Many lawns are rendered unsightly by weeds such as plaintains, daisies, dandelions, 

 buttercups, and thistles. Lawn sand is supposed to be a remedy for daisies, and in 

 some cases has done good, but it is useless against deep-rooting weeds ; while if applied 

 too freely it is apt to destroy grasses, so its use cannot be unreservedly advised. 

 Nor is the plan of dropping vitriol into the hearts of weeds for destroying them 

 altogether satisfactory. It has banished plantains from lawns, but deep-rooted 

 weeds, though killed at the top, are apt to produce numerous growths from within 

 the soil, and it must not be forgotten that vitriol burns clothes, shoes, or hands that 

 it touches. Petroleum answers much the same purpose, and is safer ; cut off the heads 

 of the weeds, leaving the fleshy roots in a small cavity, which fill with the oil, and as it 

 passes down fill again, not allowing it to spread on the grass, and the weeds will be 



