374 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



seed, and that is the right way. Get the surface perfect before sowing 

 the seed, and the after-process is easy. 



In a few weeks, according to the weather conditions, the seeds will 

 germinate, and growth should be rapid. Sometimes a spell of dry 

 weather succeeds the sowing and causes anxiety, but if the ground has 

 been thoroughly prepared, and suitable varieties of grass seed sown, 

 dry weather need cause very little trouble. At such times, if watering 

 is resorted to, the result is almost certain to be anything but pleasing. 

 A dry spell may delay the germination, but that should be all. 



Like all other plants, the early days of grasses are times when 

 care and gentle culture are a necessity. As soon as they are suffi- 

 ciently long and strong to cut, this should be done with a sharp 

 scythe, and the cut grass raked off — not swept, as is frequently the 

 case. In all probability, the mowing will have to be done with a 

 scythe for some time, until the plants have thickened sufficiently 

 for a lawn mower to be used. A common mistake in lawn turf culti- 

 vation is to consider that when the gra,sses have reached this stage 

 they can take care of themselves, if they are groomed occasionally 

 with the roller and mowing machine. They resent such treatment. 



At this stage it is most essential to give the grasses suitable 

 nourishment similar to that already recommended, but it must be 

 given very carefully. The advantage of beginning to feed the grasses 

 so early is that the roots are retained on the surface, and a finer, 

 closer growth of grass is developed than if they were allowed to 

 grow on, without this attention. But, in applying the plant food, 

 care must be observed to sprinkle it frequently on favourable occasions, 

 instead of as an annual or bi-annual dressing. 



The period in which a lawn, after sowing, may be considered fit for 

 use depends, as has already been mentioned, very much on the treat- 

 ment it has received (fig. 97) . Indifferent preparation of the ground and 

 inadequate attention afterwards can only result in failure. The great 

 defect of seeding by the ordinary method is the length of time before 

 the surface soil is a network of healthy roots, and covered with fine 

 grass, so that it can be walked or played on, without mud being too 

 strongly in evidence. This, by the usual system, will always be a 

 drawback to it being so extensively done as it might be. 



For many years we have recognized this disadvantage, and ex- 

 periment after experiment has been tried to remedy the defect, and 

 at last we succeeded. A fabric is specially prepared, and sufficient 

 suitable plant food incorporated with it, to sustain young grasses 

 for a considerable period. The seeds are sown on this, and when the 

 plants are well started the fabric is transferred to the ground where 

 it is permanently to remain. There are many advantages attached 

 to this method, some of which I will refer to. Assuming, as is 

 sometimes the case, that a structure has been erected — either 

 a new building or an addition to an existing house — the work may 

 be completed at a time when it is impossible to lay down turf, and 

 inadvisable to sow grass seed. In such a case the prepared fabric can 



