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46 J. M. Thorburn & Co., 15 John St., New York. 



FORMATION OF LAWNS FROM SEED. 



In the first place, see that your ground is thoroughly drained and well prepared, sowing at least tlr, 



bushels of seed to the acre. 



Perhaps the best description of soil 

 for a lawn is the stiff loam or clayey soils 

 which predominate in so many districts. 

 This ought not to be by any means too 

 rich, as a rapid growth is not wanted in 

 the grasses of a lawn, but in preparing it 

 for laying down, let the surface be as 

 much alike in quality as possible, and do 

 not stint the quantity of seed. A little 

 White Clover is a useful addition to the 

 seed. A very stiff clay is no better than 

 a very dry sand for resisting drought, 

 as it is in a measure sealed up against 

 the insertion of roots, and, the surface 

 contracting by the withdrawal of mois- 

 ture, it is liable to crack, etc., to a great 

 depth. Nevertheless, a stiff soil usually 

 makes the best lawn. 



If your ground is in condition to raise 

 a good crop of potatoes, it will make a 

 good lawn ; add about half a ton of bone 

 dust to the acre, harrowed in before 

 sowing the seed. The success of estab- 

 lishing a good lawn depends much on 

 the season and the condition of the ground at the time of sowing. A very slight raking-in will protect the 

 seeds much, or a sowing of wood ashes will render them distasteful to birds. Rolling, however, is at all times 

 indispensable. 



The best time to sow lawn grass seed is early in the spring, or about the latter part of August. We prefer 

 the early spring. 



One important thing ought not to be forgotten in the preparation of the ground. Let it all have a surface 

 of about six inches alike, for nothing looks worse than to see a lawn grow all in patches. One exception, how- 

 ever, may be mentioned, and that is, if there be any steep slopes facing the south, or other exposed places, let 

 the earth on them be better and deeper than on the ground level, as they are more liable to burn out. When 

 the grass becomes well established, it should be frequently cut. The oftener you mow, the finer and softer 

 your grass will be. 



It is proper here to observe that no lawn can be maintained long in good order without successive rolling 

 Mowing alone will not secure a good bottom without that compression which the roller tends to give, 

 rolling should be done in the spring, before the ground becomes dry. 



To Grass a Bank or Terrace. — For each square rod, take a pound of lawn grass seed and mix it thor- 

 oughly with six cubic feet of good, dry garden loam. Place in a tub, and add liquid manure, diluted with 

 about two-thirds of water, so as bring the whole to the consistency of mortar. The slope must be made 

 perfectly smooth, and then well watered, after which the paste should be applied, and made as even and a< 

 thin as possible. 



FINE niXED LAWN GRASS, CENTRAL PARK MIXTURE. 



For lawns of any extent, we recommend this, our best mixture, to be sown from three to four bushels tc 

 the acre. (15 lbs. to bus.) We can also make special good mixtures at lower prices. Per quart, 25 cents J 



V2 peck, 65 cents ; peck, $1 ; bushel, $3.50. 



French Mixed Lawn Grass. For croquet grounds, grass plats, etc., this mixture is recommended to b« | 

 sown from three to four bushels to the acre. (15 lbs. to bus.) per qt., 25 cents ; per bus. $4.50 



THORBURN'S LAWN-RESTORING GRASS SEED. 



A mixture of grasses peculiarly suited to take firm hold and grow quickly on hard, worn-out or burnec 

 spots. To restore a lawn that is partially worn out or burned, the best time is very early in spring, as soon a; 

 the frost is entirely out of the ground. The bare spots should be well scratched, or raked up, and this seed sowi 

 liberally. Cover the seed very thinly with earth, and then roll, or press down firmly with the back of th« 

 spade. Some Lawn-Restoring" Grass Seed should be kept always on hand, and before every rain durinj 

 the summer some of it should be sown on any parts that may appear thinner than the rest. Seed may be sowi 

 in fall, as late as from 1st of September to 1st of October, according to the weather. Price per quart-box 

 30 cents ; per bushel of 24 lbs., $5. 



