COMMONPLACE NOTES. 



1087 



down every year, or it would get too dense and deep for the bulbs, and a 

 light dressing of well-decayed manure or leaf soil should be given. This 

 acts beneficially on both the bulbs and the Ivy, the latter making a 

 beautiful mass of compact foliage immediately after the bulbs have done 

 flowering, and is much more attractive all through the summer months 

 than Ivy that is not cut so closely. However, whether the bulbs are 

 planted on grassy slopes or amongst Ivy, anything like straight lines 

 ought to be avoided ; they look much better if all formality is absent, 

 and simply growing naturally. The mixing of colour in Crocuses is a 

 matter of taste, but our advice is to avoid "dotting," i.e. first planting 

 one of one colour, and then one of another, and then of a third. Plant 

 masses or clumps of one distinct colour, not, however, making the mar- 

 gins of each colour too rigidly denned, but letting them run into one 

 another here and there, so as to produce a more natural effect. Some 

 objection might be raised to the untidy look of grassy slopes if planted 

 with bulbs. But as a rule the mowing of banks may be left some weeks 

 later than the lawn without appearing untidy, and by that time the bulbs 

 will have developed sufficiently to feel little or no ill-effect from the grass 

 being cut. 



Slow Growth. 



It is very curious how slowly the appreciation of a privilege grows. 

 In 1897 the Council arranged with Dr. Augustus Voelcker, M.A., one of 

 the most distinguished horticultural and agricultural chemists of the day, 

 a scheme by which Fellows of the Society could obtain advice at a con- 

 siderable reduction in cost as to (1) the existing constituents of their soil ; 

 (2) what it would be advisable to add ; (3) the quality of the chemical 

 manures they purchase ; and (4) what manures and in what quantity 

 they should use. All this is set forth in the Society's " Book of Arrange- 

 ments " at pages 26-33. In 1898 only one Fellow availed himself of this 

 privilege ; in 1899 eight did so ; in 1900 eight again ; in 1901 only six ; 

 in 1902 sixteen. It appears therefore as if Fellows were at last beginning 

 to realise and appreciate one of the privileges attaching to their Fellow- 

 ship. 



Lawns. 



Judging by the frequency of inquiry, the subject of the treatment of 

 lawns is one of perennial difficulty. " How am I to treat a lawn very 

 much impoverished by neglect ? The soil is a light sand, and a few days' 

 drought makes it terribly brown." We recommend treating the lawn 

 three times in the year to a dressing of 



1 oz. Nitrate of Soda \ 



1 oz. Sulphate of Ammonia [ well mixed together 



2 oz. Bone Meal j 



to every two square yards of lawn, the first dressing to be given in 

 early April, the second in the middle of June, the third in the middle of 

 August. Showery weather should be chosen for each application, and if 

 it be not showery it must be watered in artificially. This will give the 



