LAWNS AND THEIR UPKEEP. 



377 



grasses are plants, although the treatment they sometimes get is sufficient 

 to make one think that they are not always recognized as such. 



Where this extensive rolling is persisted in, it generates conditions 

 under which the finer grasses cannot grow, and eventually coarser 

 kinds, weeds, and bare patches take their places. If a lawn has 

 been well made and suitably attended to, very Httle rolling should 

 be necessary. These conditions must have given to it an even, smooth 

 surface, which can be easily retained with skilful cultivation. 



Deeply as I have gone into the matter, I cannot find out the least 

 excuse for the continuous use of a heavy roller on lawns. The most 

 successful cultivator of lawns is the one who works conjointly with 

 nature, which readily responds to gentle culture, but resents forceful 

 treatment. 



These later remarks apply chiefly to what may be termed the 

 ordinary lawn. Lawns that are used for such games as lawn tennis 

 need to be treated rather differently. An ideal tennis court should 

 play fast, and be firm and true. To obtain these essentials a greater 

 amount of rolling is necessary than I have previously advised, but this 

 rolhng must be done with caution and discrimination. Rolling, that 

 under certain conditions will do good, at other times may do harm. 

 Winter rolling may be placed under the latter category. At this 

 period of the year, or in early spring, it almost invariably does harm, 

 and should be avoided. 



Generally lawn tennis is played from May to October. As soon 

 as the period of play is over, the treatment necessary to prepare the 

 lawn for the succeeding season should be commenced. This may 

 consist of re-turfing any very worn-out places with turf of equal texture 

 to the existing material. Then loosen any very severely compressed 

 places with a digging fork, and heavily rake over the whole 

 area. When this is done apply chemical manure according to 

 requirements. It is important that this chemical dressing should be 

 of a nature that will benefit the turf. 



The nature of the plant food, and the manner of its application, 

 must necessarily vary very considerably, according to the kinds 

 of grasses that exist, and the nature of the soil in which they are 

 growing. Situation also has a considerable influence on the growth 

 of grass. This can be seen on almost any lawn by comparing the 

 growth on a slope with that on the flat. It is these variations that 

 in a great measure make the cultivation of grasses such an interesting 

 study. I admit a certain amount of enthusiasm on the subject, and 

 after many years of close attention to it I find that the greatest aid 

 to successful culture is observation. Even in the application of food, 

 I find observation of far greater assistance than an analysis of the 

 soil alone. 



If one is thoroughly conversant with a plant, it almost tells you 

 what treatment it should receive. Take a Poa or a Fescue, both very 

 important lawn grasses, and examine it. If it is a small contracted 

 specimen, it tells you at once that its emaciated condition is due to 



VOL. XL. 2D 



