3C0 
THE FLORAL "WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
and much as we regard tbeir beautiful forms and wise adaptation as 
a link in the great charm of nature, we hail their absence from such 
classic regions as a boon. Oue of our poets has immortalized the 
daisy in these lines — 
“ The Hose lias but a summer's reign, 
The Daisy never dies.” 
Now it is precisely for these ever- blooming and “ never” dying quali- 
ties that we gardeners banish them from our lawns. They may be 
ranked in the first class of our “ forget-me-nots,” and every gardener 
may truly say of them what the poet said of the rosemary, “ That’s for 
remembrance.” Next in order, as weeds on lawns, come the D tnde- 
lion and Rib-grass, or plantain ; these are the only ones which 
become troublesome when grass is moderately well kept. But what 
is deficient in quantity is compensated for by the facility with which 
great quantities are produced from seeds. The practice of neglect- 
ing the mowing of grass as a point of economy is not to be com- 
mended, because it gives these pests an opportunity of propagating 
themselves to an almost incredible extent, not only stocking the 
grass with their frequency, hut also the walks. The task of clean- 
ing a foul lawn is indeed a serious one, but one which will amply 
repay, where high keeping is necessary ; and like all other under- 
takings, it may be accomplished bv a little perseverance. When 
once got under, they may, by a little regular appliance, be easily 
kept in subjection. The best -workman for the purpose is a boy 
from twelve to fourteen years of age, who need only be thus 
occupied in dry and suitable weather. The best instrument is the 
Daisy-digger ; it has a handle like that of a large chisel, into which 
is fixed a piece of iron, which is bent upwards at the end, and 
forked thus It is necessary to take out the entire root of these 
plants, and therefore advantage should be taken to do it after rain, 
the operator placing the forks under the leaves of the plant, and 
pressing the handle gently down, the plant is drawn out of the 
earth, the point of fulcrum being that where it begins to curve. I 
fear that my remarks may be thought tedious upon this simple 
subject ; but as “ trifles make the sum of human things,” it is evident 
that to do great things well we must not despise little ones, ily 
maxim through life has been — that what is not worth doing well is 
not worth the attempt. Often have I seen persons on grass 
delving and pottering with a short weeding knife to extract weeds, 
when the use of the Daisy-digger would have done double the work 
in a more efficient manner. 
