Mar.] 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



good effect ; or they may be planted out on the lawn singly, or 

 in lines by the sides of walks. 



GRASS WALKS AND LAWNS. 



Where grass lawns are to be made of any considerable ex- 

 tent, this is now a good season, and the mode of forming them 

 by sowing is decidedly the most exj^ditious and economical. 

 In preparing the ground for this purpose, it is necessary to be 

 at some pains in having it thoroughly cleared of root-weeds, 

 which if not done now, cannot be accomplished afterwards 

 without evident injury to the grass. For this purpose, the 

 ground should be carefully dug over and all such roots picked 

 out ; it should then be properly levelled and rolled down to a 

 regular and uniform consistency. If the ground be rich, which 

 is thus intended to be laid down, the grasses would be apt to 

 grow too luxuriantly, and be not only difficult to keep, but 

 would also never become of a fine bottom. A thin stratum of 

 sand or light sandy earth should be regularly spread over the 

 whole, as noticed last month ; over this a thin stratum of 

 earth of a richer texture should be placed in an even manner, 

 into which the seeds should be regularly sown, and when 

 raked in, be well rolled with a heavy roller. As the spring 

 advances, the new sown lawn should be frequently examined 

 and cleared of all weeds as they appear, and if the grass-seeds 

 have failed, or come up too thin in some places, more seed 

 should be sown as soon as such failures are discovered. Such 

 lawns should be cut several times during the first season, but 

 never too close nor yet in dry weather, as, in that case, the roots 

 would be liable to be parched up by the drought. 



Where immediate eftect is the object, and where good turf 

 can be procured, the most eligible plan is to cover the whole 

 with turf cut from some down or sheep-walk, where the herbage 

 is fine, as, in a few weeks, the whole may appear as if it had 

 been made for years. This is as a good season for this opera- 

 tion as any, indeed, from September till the beginning of May, 

 provided the operation be performed neither in too dry nor too 

 frosty weather. Such as is laid late in spring should be oc- 

 casionally supplied with water, until the turf has taken root, if 



5 K 



