THE FORMATION AND CAEE OF LAWNS AND GOLF-GREENS. 21 



their extermination, but unfortunately there is no really satisfactory way 

 of getting rid of them except by manual labour. They are, however, far 

 more easily dealt with in a young state than after they have been allowed 

 to mature. Undoubtedly a certain amount of good can be done by 

 dipping a wooden skewer into sulphuric acid, strong carbolic acid, or 

 one of the liquid weed-destroyers, and plunging it into the centre of the 

 plant. There is always, however, the danger of killing grass as well, in 

 addition to which such preparations need very careful use, or serious 

 consequences may follow to the operator. 



There is one other cause of annoyance in lawns with which owners 

 do not always know how to deal. Sometimes hollows appear, through the 

 sinking of the turf. In the case of newly-made lawns, the turf is generally 

 not of sufficient maturity to cut up and roll. In this case the hollows 

 should be filled with a thick covering of soil to the same level as the 

 surrounding turf, and then sown with the same mixture of grass seeds 

 as was used originally. Depressions in old lawns can be more easily 

 remedied. In this case it is only necessary to cut and roll the turf 

 occupying such hollows, and fill up the bed underneath with fresh soil to 

 the proper level. The turf can then be replaced, pressed down, and 

 watered. Naturally this operation should take place at a time of year 

 when the turves have every chance of growing together again. 



The Ceeation and Subsequent Treatment of Putting- Greens. 



The very name of golf possesses a fascination for its devotees which 

 is probably unique, and the extraordinary development of this game 

 throughout the length and breadth of the country during the past twenty 

 years certainly has no parallel in any other form of sport. It has been 

 computed that in England alone there are no fewer than half a million 

 golfers, and, this being so, it is evident that the creation of putting-greens 

 and their subsequent treatment are matters of very considerable import- 

 ance. 



Golf courses exist not only in every county but on soils varying in as 

 great if not to a greater degree than lawns themselves, and, however 

 unsuitable the soil, the greens must conform to the very high standard 

 required by the present-day golfer, or the course will be condemned and 

 ultimately prove a failure. The very fact of there being such divergent 

 conditions on difierent courses makes it all the more important that the 

 correct treatment should be adopted from the first, and in the absence of 

 a ground-man of very considerable experience it will be well to secure 

 expert ad\ice. 



Situation.— li is unnecessary to point out that a golf course should 

 always be situated in the open, where it can obtain the full benefits to 

 be derived from the action of the sun and rain ; and where any choice is 

 possible as to the direction in which it should face, the question of altitude, 

 soil, and immediate surroundings should be duly considered. 



Soil. — If soil of good texture and rich in humus is desirable for lawns, 

 it is of even greater importance for putting-greens. Severe though the 

 treatment may be to which a lawn is subjected, it always has the winter 

 months in which to recuperate, whereas golf -greens are in constant use 



