THE FORMATION AND CARE OF LAWNS AND GOLF-GREENS. 19 



a scythe, and this should be done frequently until the plants tiller out 

 and become sufficiently strong to bear the mowing-machine. Even 

 'then, however, great care should be taken to see that the machine is in 

 perfect order, and that the knives are set correctly and so sharp as not 

 to pull up the young plants. Meanwhile, the roller also must be in 

 constant use, otherwise firm turf cannot be obtained. 



Special Points Relative to Croquet Lawns, Tennis 

 Lawns, and Bowling Gkeens. 



By persons unacquainted with the subject it would hardly be sup- 

 posed that different treatment was necessary in the preparation of the 

 ground and in the constituents of the turf for croquet lawns, tennis 

 lawns, and bowling greens, yet there are special points requiring atten- 

 tion in each case, and this is especially so with regard to bowling greens. 



Croquet has now become such a science that a lawn must be as true 

 as a billiard table ; while in the case of a tennis lawn greater toughness 

 of turf is necessary owing to the severe wear which it experiences. The 

 formation of a bowling green, however, demands more skill than any 

 other kind of lawn. The turf must be very fine in texture, absolutely 

 level, and so perfect and elastic in character that the bowls may run out 

 every fraction of energy imparted to them by the player. 



The most elaborate system of drainage is necessary in order that no 

 superfluous moisture may remain on the surface, and the drain-pipes are 

 usually covered with a six-inch layer of furnace ashes and cinders to 

 ensure the ground being thoroughly porous. This rubble should be 

 watered, beaten, and rolled until a perfect level is obtained, and upon 

 this foundation a bed of stones should be laid, and in its turn covered 

 with a layer of sand one inch in thickness. On the top of this from two 

 to three inches of rich clean soil are required, upon which the seed 

 should be sow^n. 



The Improvement and " Up-keep " of Lawns. 



Before turning for a few moments to the points of special interest 

 relative to putting-greens, I propose to make a few remarks upon the im- 

 provement and " up-keep " of lawns. 



In view of the fact that the formation of a really good lawn entails so 

 much labour, consideration, and expense, it is most disheartening to find 

 that it has distinctly deteriorated in quality after it has been down four 

 or five years, and, as nothing occurs without a cause, it will be well to 

 consider a few of the points which should receive attention from time to 

 time. 



Undoubtedly, by far the most important factor in connection with 

 such deterioration is the impoverishment which results as a law^n 

 advances in years, consequent upon the exhaustion of the soil from no 

 return having been made for the crops of grass removed by the machine. 



I have already referred to the serious way in which lawns are handi- 

 capped with regard to the application of manure ; but in the case of 

 lawns which have been down for some years it is astonishing how few 



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