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surface. Finely sifted rich soil with a liberal addition of burnt earth, 

 wood ashes, and sand should then be spread between the turfs — to fill 

 up the interspaces — and make the whole surface as level as possible. 

 The top may then be beaten down or rolled to give a firm surface. 

 In a few weeks the whole surface will be grown over but mowing 

 should not be too frequent or too close for the first few months until 

 a "sole " is formed. To assist this constant rolling should be given 

 and to keep a lawn in good condition roiling should be continued 

 regularly throughout the year. New lawns may require watering 

 during dry weather. The appearance of the grass will suggest this. 



Much depends on selecting the right kind of turf. It should be 

 free from course grass and weeds, should be of a uniform thickness 

 and should be composed of a grass which is naturally of a close, short 

 creeping growth. 



There are several grasses of this nature which are plentiful 

 everywhere. The best are Cynodon dactylon for dry sandy places near 

 the sea, and Zoysia pungens also for dry situations near the sea, and 

 for inland situations Digitaria longiflora, a fine grey-leaved grass. 

 Only creeping grasses should be used; others die out quickly during 

 dry weather. In wet situations Cynodon dactylon dies out and Zoysia 

 pungens becomes spongy if not very carefully looked after. 



I do not recommend forming lawns from seeds although I have 

 seen very good lawns from English grass seeds in this country. 

 They are slow, expensive, and do not last so long as those made from 

 native grasses and ants usually eat up the seeds before they germi- 

 nate. When recourse is had to grass seeds they should, when possi- 

 ble, be collected in this country, only those being used which possess 

 the qualities mentioned above. 



When English lawn seeds are desired, most seedsmen supply 

 mixtures ready for sowing and suited to wet or dry soils as the case 

 may be. 



The same preparations of the soil as given for turf are necessary. 

 A fine layer of prepared soil should be spread over the surface on 

 which the seed should be sown and lightly raked in. 



The surface should be slightly rolled and protected from heavy 

 rains ; 50 fts to the acre is about the quantity of grass seed required 

 for a lawn. The ground should be kept carefully clear of weeds and 

 • rank growth and the young grass should not be mowed for at least 2 

 months, but frequent rolling will be necessary. 



The keeping of lawns when once established is work of a routine 

 character consisting chiefly of mowing, rolling and sweeping. This 

 w T ork must, however, be carefully performed. Very stiff brooms 

 should not be used as they switch hundreds of young grass plants 

 out of the ground and also remove earth round from the roots ; and I 

 have already pointed out the importance of proper mowing. 



