THE FORMATION AND CARE OF LAWNS AND GOLF-GREENS. 17 



keep its place in lawn grass mixtures, and it is specially useful in com- 

 bination with Perennial Rye Grass. 



Feskica ovina. — True Festuca ovina, like True Red Fescue, is not 

 always easy to obtain, but a proportion of seed of this species is a valuable 

 adjunct to every mixture, and it is of great assistance in making a turf of 

 really fine quality. 



Festuca ovina tenuifolia (Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue) is quite unhke 

 other varieties, and the foliage is far the finest in texture of any grass in 

 general use. Its beautiful dark green colour makes it very attractive. 



Poa trivialis (Rough -stalked Meadow Grass) is a grass which, unhke 

 such varieties as Hard Fescue, has distinctive uses. In foliage it much 

 resembles Poa pratensis, but revels in damp and heavy soils, and con- 

 sequently should always be included in mixtures intended for such con- 

 ditions. 



Poa nemoralis (Wood Meadow Grass) is always useful in a lawn of fine 

 texture, and has the merit of being almost the only grass which will grow 

 under trees. 



Poa annua. — A year or two ago constant reference was made in the 

 horticultural papers to Poa annua (Annual Meadow Grass), which, as all 

 present probably know, is the little weed pest of our gravel paths. 



It is an interesting species from many points of view, and no grass 

 comes to maturity so quickly : indeed, it has been known to spring up 

 flower, and ripen seed in from four to five weeks, and it is the fact that 

 new plants are constantly springing up that has probably led people to erro- 

 neously assume that it is perennial in character. It will never, however, 

 in my opinion, be of any value for the purpose of a lawn, for it altogether 

 refuses to amalgamate with other and more suitable varieties. 



Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow or Milfoil), — This plant stands quite by 

 itself, in that it is neither a grass nor a clover. It greatly assists in 

 providing that elasticity which is so pleasant a feature in all good turf ; 

 but inasmuch as it is very liable to become coarse it must be constantly 

 mown. 



Clovers inLaivns. — I cannot leave the question of the particular plants 

 of value in the composition of a lawn mixture without referring very 

 briefly to the desirability, or otherwise, of including clovers. There is 

 probably no question relative to lawns upon which there is so much 

 difference of opinion. Some people insist upon their inclusion in every 

 mixture, while others have a pronounced antipathy to them. Speaking 

 generally, however, there is no doubt that they should be avoided on 

 tennis courts, where it is all-important that the ball should rise quickly 

 and truly from the surface. On the other hand, in lawns for general 

 purposes, clover is advantageous the first year after sowing, in that it 

 quickly covers the ground, and will make the use of the lawn possible 

 earlier than if grasses alone had been sown. Here again, however, the 

 constant and careful use of the mowing-machine is essential, or the 

 plant may become strong and unsightly. 



The three usual species of clovers used for the purpose are : (1) Trifolium 

 7'epens (White Clover), a species which is indigenous all over the country ; 

 (2) Trifolium minus (Suckling Clover), the diminutive foliage of which 

 makes it very useful where clovers are desirable. Strictly speaking, this 



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