until the last, because, even after sowing the grass seed, at raking it in, a quantity of stones will be 
gathered, and you will need a place to put them and the walk will need the stones. A section 
of the road when 
done will appear as ^ ^j^^Js^i^^^ ' " "- 
shown in the engrav- 
ing, and it will be al- 
ways dry and free 
from weeds and grass. 
If the earth should 
wash from the lawn 
and cause weeds to 
start, sow salt along 
the edges and you 
will see no weeds for 
a season. 
In very small places 
it would, perhaps, be 
as cheap to sod the 
whole, instead of sow- 
ing grass seed. Where 
this is desirable, good 
turf can be procured from the roadside or pasture, and it should be well and neatly laid. 
In large places the plow can be used instead of the spade, and with great economy of labor. 
In that case the whole lot should be well plowed and dragged before the walks are staked 
out. After this, stake the walks and remove the earth the necessary depth, using it to level off 
the low places. There will always be a good deal of work for the spade and rake, 
PLANTING AND ORNAMENTING THE LAWN. 
Two great errors are usually made, both by gardeners and amateurs ; one destroying the lawn 
by cutting it up wdth unnecessary walks and flower beds, the other producing the same result by 
almost htei-ally covering it with trees and shrubbery. Grass cannot grow well among the roots 
and under the shadow of trees and shrubs, and no lawn can look well cut up in sections by 
numerous roads. Most of the little lawns we see in this country are almost entirely destroyed by 
ENGLISH PARK 
QUEEN VICTORIA S HOME, OSBORNE HOUSE. 
FORMS OF BEDS. 
one or both of Aese causes. The main part of the lawn should be left unbroken by any tree or 
shrub, as a general rule, with only an occasional fine specimen, like a Purple Beech, or Magnolia, 
or cut-leaved Birch. The shrubbery should be in clumps or groups, in proper places, and so 
thick as to cover all the ground. The soil under them should be kept cultivated and clean like a 
flower bed. Trees in appropriate places for shade and beauty, are, of course, desirable ; but 
plant for the future, not for the present, and always have in view the size and form and habits of 
the trees when full grown, and not their present small size, and, perhaps, delicate form. 
Tree planting must be governed by the extent of the 
grounds. In a lawn em- 
bracing many acres, forest 
trees, or trees of large size, 
may be admitted ; and then 
it will partake somewhat of ribbon bed. 
the character of European parks, the nature of which we have endeavored to show in the engravin;)-. 
These are not given the same care and expense as small lawns; indeed, the gi-ass is ofteii 
RIBBON BED. 
kept short by sheep, and seldom mown. 
That portion of the lawn of such parks immediately 
15 
