THE FORMATION OF LAWNS. 



103 



gardens, and bowling-greens, and, as such, calls for 

 some notice in this part of our subject. The first 

 requisite is a good surface soil for where this is want- 

 ing no good grass can be obtained to form a fine turf. 

 It is vain to expect a rich and perpetual verdure on 

 stiff clay, or on tilly and heathy soils. From eight to 

 sixteen inches of good loam or of fine light mould, 

 according to the nature of the subsoil, will generally 

 be sufficient for this purpose. An object of nearly 

 equal importance is a copious supply of grasses adapted 

 to such soils. These are most readily obtained by 

 sowing the proper seeds. It is an absurd practice to 

 sow the different varieties of rye-grass, ( Lolium jper- 

 enmj most of which are really annual, or at most bi- 

 ennial : in this way a fine perennial turf will never be 

 formed, though a natural one, more or less worthless, 

 will probably form itself from seeds of grasses con- 

 tained in the ground, which are most likely to be of 

 the coarsest kind. Probably, after the lapse of six or 

 eight years, a sward barely tolerable may be produced 

 by constant mowing. Our own experience warrants 

 us to say, that with a proper mixture of perennial 

 grass seeds, a fine sward may be grown in two years. 

 We may add, that careful and frequent rolling and 

 mowing conduce greatly to the speedy formation of a 

 fine sward. 



Note. — The best possible grasses for American lawns 

 are Blue-grass, (Poa conipressa,) meadow or green 

 grass, (Poa pratmsisj and white clover, (Trifolium 

 repensj which grow spontaneously over most parts of 

 the United States. They make a soft, thick turf, like 

 wool, and require only to be often cut to maintain a 



