Horticulture. 



34 



[Jan. 1907. 



inches apart each way. Sprinkle some fine soil over the surface, then give a liberal 

 watering and gentle rolling. Wet weather, or regular watering'by hand is required 

 for the success'of this method, and the same remark applies in some degree to all 

 modes of lawn-making. A method which is said to be sometimes adopted in Northern 

 India and other dry countries is described thus : — " Pull up a quantity of grass by the 

 roots, chop it tolerably fine, mix it well in a compost of mud of about the consistency 

 of mortar, and spread this out thinly over the ground where the lawn is required." 

 This, however, would not be suited to wet districts, where a single shower might 

 wash the preparation away. 



Sowing seed for making a lawn is not usually satisfactory in the low-country, 

 though at higher elevations, where English lawn-grass seed can thrive it sometimes 

 yields good results, as may be seen on the cricket pitch at Nuwara Eliya. Owing to 

 more extreme conditions of wet and dry weather in the low-country and greater 

 abundance of fast-growing weeds, a uniform green sward can seldom be obtained by 

 sowing seed, the probability being that before the seed which has been sown 

 germinates, the ground is covered with faster growing weeds, which generally flourish 

 with extra vigour in tilled soil. Equally likely is it that the greater portion of the 

 seed sown has been washed away by the rain or demolished by birds and insects 

 before it has had time to germinate. 



As to what constitutes the best grass for lawns, much depends on climate 

 and local conditions. The " Doob-grass" (Gynodon dactylon) is a favourite for 

 dry and semi-dry districts, whilst the Love-grass or "Tutteri" of the Sinhalese 

 (Chrysopogon aciculatus) is the one par excellence for the moist low-country. An 

 objection tc the latter grass is, if allowed to seed, that it has sharp hooked awns 

 which adhere to and penetrate one's clothes uncomfortably. The best self- 

 formed turf at Peradeniya is generally found to consist chiefly of Chrysopogon 

 aciculatus (' ' Love-grass"), Ischaemum ciliare(" Rat- tana"), Setaria glauca " (Kawulu") 

 Panicum sanguinale, Sporobidus diander, and the clover-like Desmodium triflorum 

 or " Hin-undu-piyala." Under the shade of trees the principal turf -grasses are 

 Paspalum conjugation, Panicum trigonum, Oplismenus compositus, and Apluda 

 aristata. The Paspalum conjugatum, an introduced species f rom|the West Indies, and 

 now completely naturalised in Ceylon, is especially adapted for shaded situations and 

 Avhen kept closely cut it forms very fair turf. Fortunately for up-country residents 

 they can have special grass-seed mixtures adapted for particular purposes, made up 

 by seed-merchants in Europe or Australia ; or, if preferable, seed of suitable varieties 

 may be obtained separately and mixed locally according to desire. Whenever 

 possible, whether sowing seed, partial turfing, or dibbling roots is decided upon for 

 making a lawn, the margins of the walks and flower-beds should be laid with a 

 continuous belt of turf , if it be but a foot in width. 



It must be remembered that the success of a lawn will altogether depend 

 upon its proper upkeep. It should be kept free of weeds, mowed at brief intervals 

 with a mowing machine, and never allowed to produce seed-stalks or wear a neglected 

 appearance. A heavy roller should be used frequently when the ground is moderately 

 soft, but not when it is either wet or very dry. The mower should not be used until 

 a firm green sward has been formed, it being preferable at first to have the grass cut 

 at intervals by a scythe or sickle which will encourage it to spread and become 

 established. 



In the tropics lawns have enemies which are not known or equalled in 

 temperate countries. Not the least formidable of these are various species of ants, 

 the most pernicious of which is the Termite or " White- Ant." There should be a 

 constant look-out for the nests of these and the earliest signs checked by either 

 digging them out, or pouring poison or pumping poisonous fumes down their crevices. 



particularly partial to well-kept lawns : one of these is 



