ON MAKING LA WNS B Y SEEDING. 



213 



pests in plant-growing. In the markets of Paris, toads 

 are articles of regular trade, and gardeners buy them by 

 the dozen as insect-hunters in their small gardens. These 

 homely reptiles devour anything in the shape of worm or 

 insect, from the smallest greenfly to the largest cut-worm 

 and May beetle. Even the disgusting potato-beetle is 

 devoured with evident relish. 



Among insects there are many that prey on the worst 

 pests of our gardens and orchards. ' ' Nearly all the lace- 

 wings, which include the ant-lions, aphis-lions, dragon- 

 flies, etc. , " says Prof. A. J. Cook in the New York Tribune, 

 ' ' are a benefit, living wholly on other insects, and so help 

 to preserve our crops. Most of the locust order are de- 

 structive, yet even here we find the curious praying-mantis, 

 common at the south, with its jaw-like anterior legs — one 

 of the first of predaceous insects. True, it attacks bees 

 also, but it certainly does much more good than harm. 

 Several bugs, like the great wheel-bug and the soldier-bug, 

 feed exclusively on other insects. Of the beetles, the 

 beautifully spotted lady-bird beetle, the black, long-legged 

 ground-beetles, the quick fierce, tiger-beetles, and a few 

 others, are valuable aids in holding our insect pests in 

 check. I have repeatedly seen the grubs of the ground- 

 beetles eating cut-worms. The good work of the pretty 

 lady-bird beetles in destroying the pestiferous plant-lice 

 can hardly be too much appreciated. Of the two-wing 

 flies, we have the tachina-flies, which are internal parasites 



on other insects ; they resemble in form and color the 

 house-flies, to which they are closely related. These also 

 prey upon cut-worms, laying their eggs on the caterpillars, 

 and as these eggs hatch the maggots eat into their host 

 and destroy its life. 



" Two other families of two-winged flies do much good 

 in eating other insects. The robber-flies are so fierce and 

 strong they destroy even the honey-bee, while the conical 

 maggot of the pretty yellow-banded syrphus-flies feed 

 upon plant-lice to an extent surpassed by few other 

 insects ; they are nearly or quite equal to the lady-bird 

 beetles as aphis-destroyers. 



" Among the highest order of insects — the one that in- 

 cludes the bees and wasps — we have the ichneumon-flies 

 and the chalcids — wasp-like insects that are parasites and 

 do incomparable good. They are of all sizes, and prey 

 upon almost all kinds of insects. They are far more 

 helpful to the farmer than are the tachina-flies ; they 

 saved the wheat crop in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana in 

 1889. The wasps also belong to this order, and do much 

 good ; indeed, I think we may say that the wasps are only 

 our friends. They are dreaded needlessly, for, un- 

 molested, they rarely if ever sting. I have seen wasps 

 carry off slugs and tent-caterpillars in great numbers. 

 Every farmer should become acquainted with these 

 friends and learn their habits, that he may help, not hinder, 

 their good work." 



ON MAKING LAWNS BY SEEDING. 



FINE EFFECTS AT REASONABLE COST. 



:DontWalk on 

 WThe Grass.' 



HILE we may differ as to 

 what garden embellish- 

 ments are best, as to the 

 beauty of a green grass 

 carpet all agree, and so 

 we find it common to 

 all home grounds. 



In the Waverly Gar- 

 den at Edinburgh, which 

 is a magnificent roof- 

 garden above the market-place, while the bulk of the 

 adornments are beautiful exotics in beds, yet similar 

 beds are devoted to ordinary sward. This garden would 

 have been greatly lacking in its power to charm had the 

 lawn feature not been introduced. Even in a window- 

 garden the suspended sponge in which grass-seed has 

 been sown, or the pot or vase of growing grass, is always 

 a pleasing and easily acquired ornament. 



The object of the present article is to consider the 

 subject of securing by seeding a handsome lawn for a 

 moderate outlay, through pursuing methods within the 

 reach of all home-owners. 



The Soil. — The first choice will be a soil naturally 

 loamy, deep, fertile and well-drained. In most cases the 

 home chooser will look out for these advantages for other 

 considerations also, as trees and plants will thrive better 

 in such land, likewise the kitchen-garden and orchard. 



But in the case of many homes, soil becomes secondary 

 to location. In towns, however, hydrant watering is 

 usually available, and this may offset certain defects of 

 soil. In the case of a country home without public 

 water it becomes necessary, in order to carry the lawn 

 through periods of drouth in a fine green condition, that 

 stores of moisture and food be provided by having the 

 soil deep and fertile. 



Drainage. — Where the natural or artificial drainage 

 makes the place healthful as a home, the surroundings 

 will be sufiiciently dry for a good lawn ; otherwise put 

 tile or other drains 30 inches or so deep in parallel lines 

 about two rods apart, and lay in connection with an out- 

 let, so as to provide an inch of fall per rod. Any under- 

 drains that might thus be required should be put down 

 as the first step towards fitting the ground for grass. 



Grading. — One of the first requisites is that the surface 

 be sufficiently even to admit of the grass being regu- 

 larly cut by a lawn-mower. Aside from the perfect 

 evenness of the surface, some attention should be given 

 to general appearance of the grade. 



In the first cut on following page is shown what pur^ 

 ports to be four views of the same section of a home lawn, 

 designed to illustrate the effect of various lawn contours. 

 The upper grade strikes the eye as being uncomely, be- 

 cause of the ill-shaped finish bestowed on it in construc- 

 tion. It is, moreover, so uneven that it cannot well be 



