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Work for September in the Garden 
I By John Johnson, Massachusetts j 
IniiiiiiiiiiininiiliiliMiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniinnm 
LAWN making may be undertaken this month with 
every prospect of success. On dry sandy soils it 
is often difficult to obtain a good stand of grass 
from a spring sowing, and while the past rainy season 
may be regarded as having been generally favoralile to 
newly made lawns on all soils, where failure attended tlie 
efforts of those desirous of making Al lawns, now is the 
time to try again. A point to be regarded and one which 
cannot be too strongly emphasized, is thorough prepara- 
tion of the soil. A previously uncultivated barren waste 
land is too often considered good enough for a lawn, 
although it is generally understood that grass suft'ers 
starvation 'as readily as any other crop. 
Well-rotted manure applied at the rate of from twenty 
to twent}-five tons per acre is always beneficial. Fresh 
stable maiuire should be avoided on account of the vast 
number of fertile weed seeds it contains. Moreover, 
when well-rotted manure, dried cow or sheep manure or 
artificial fertilizers are used in the preparation, uneven- 
ness of surface is not likely to accrue from subsequent 
settling of the ground. It is, however, always advis- 
able to allow the ground to lie fallow for as long a time 
as circumstances permit. Plots plowed in the spring with 
a view to sow ing in the Fall offer advantages in the 
destruction of weeds by light hoeings in hot weather and 
a thorough consolidation of the soil which is favorable 
to all grasses. In hurried preparations this condition 
is difficult of attainment. Of course, it is vexatious to 
most people awaiting the germination of weed seeds and 
their subsequent destruction, yet this is really the cheap- 
est and quickest way of cleaning the soil. 
A fine frialile surface is an absolute necessity to insure 
a good seed bed and to this end diligent use of the rake 
and roller must be alternately given. Frequent raking 
assists in clearing the land of roots and stones ; and if 
after raking the roller follows, imperfections will be 
readily seen and may be rectified. These operations not 
only pulverize the soil but impart to it a firmness con- 
ducive to the best germination. Actual success in ger- 
mination depends on atmospheric conditions primarily, 
and sound treatment of the seed bed. It will then be 
conceded that generally during the month of September 
the soil is more congenial as to warmth and moisture 
than at any other season, and that the making of lawns 
at this season is, therefore, very practicable. 
For quick germination, sow on a calm dav when the 
ground is fairlv moist, or ji'st before rnin. Rake the 
surface liehtly and follow with a roller. 
A word on the selection of seed. The character of a 
lawn produced from seed is guaranteed by the varieties 
and proportions of erasses included in the mi.xture. 
Whether clovers should have a place mtist be determined 
by local conditions. In certain locations clovers are in- 
digenous and will in time appear whether sown or not. 
and on light land subject to burning in summer, clovers 
remain green when other grasses turn brown. This is 
probably the onlv point in their favor. 
The most reliable of all grasses and one which with- 
stands the heat of our smnmcrs thoroughly well is the 
Kentucky Blue Grass fPoa Pratensis), known to old 
countrymen as the smooth-stalked meadow grass. The 
first season after sowing this grass is somewhat dis- 
appointing- and for this reason we do not recommend its 
•employment exclusively, although it will eventuall\- make 
a very satisfactory turf. Included in the mixture we 
would advise for general purposes one part red-top 
(Agrostis alba) and the Rhode Island bent (.Agrostis 
canina), one part to two parts Blue Grass. The two 
first named take possession of the ground until the 
KeiUucky Blue Grass becomes thoroughly established, 
after which they gradually become weaker and weaker 
until choked out of existence by the dense growth of 
the favorite Kentucky Blue. To secure a good sound 
turf sow the mixture at the rate of eight bushels per 
acre. 
.A. grass similar in appearance to the Kentucky Blue is 
the Rough-Stalked Meadow Grass ( Poa trivialis) but 
instead of its being suited to dry soils it flourishes in 
shady and moist situations. We, therefore, recommend 
the employment of Poa trivialis for shady lawns, as it 
withstands the presence of trees almost with impunity. 
The mention of shady spots on the lawn reminds one 
of the sometimes hopeless task of making grass thrive 
in surh places. Where, after repeated trials, grass has 
failed, it may be advisable, or, indeed, necessary to plant 
low growing shrubs as Ivy, Periwinkle (\'inca minor), 
St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Rcrberis .\quifolium, or 
even Privet, Box, or Rhododendrons, where there are 
several trees together, L'nder isolated specimen trees, 
whose shade is too dense for grass to grow successfully, 
plant Lily of the Valley, Creeping Jenny ( Lysimachia 
numnuilaria), Funkia, Pachysandra or low-growing He- 
paticas. Any of the above named subjects may be 
planted at this time or in the spring. 
Orchard Fruit. \'arieties of the dift'erent kinds of 
fruit are influenced in the time of harvesting by local 
conditions, as climate, season and cultivation. A prac- 
ticed eye can, however, readily detect the changed appear- 
ance which such fruits as apples and pears assume at 
maturity. The color usually becomes brighter and the 
green parts turn yellow : but a safe way to determine 
the proper time for gathering is when separation at the 
junction of stalk and spur can be done without force. 
Avoid abrasions and subsequent loss from decay by care- 
ful handling at the time of gathering, and separate small 
and defective fruit from the finer and clean specimens. 
For sound preservation tlu'ee rules nmst be observed ; 
Low temperature (about 34 degrees F.), still atmosphere 
and darkness. 
Fruit keeps best in an atmosphere not too moist nor 
yet too dry ; and since it rapidlv acquires the taste of 
an\thing with which it comes in contact, avoid straw, 
heavy brown jiaper or similar materials in iiacking for 
storage. Still, the choicest samples may he wrajiped 
separately in tissue paper as a preservative. Shallow 
trays, deeper at the ends than the sides answer admir- 
ably well for the small grower. These may be placed 
one upon the other and moved without trouble. In this 
way fruit can be housed in a limited sjiace and be at 
tlie same time accessible to inspection. 
I'ci^ctahlc Garden. Harvest onions as soon as the tops 
turn yellow. In a general way this crop may be drawn 
and dried on the ground on which it is grown, although 
in showerv weather jt will be necessary to finish curing 
the liulbs in a dry shed open to the sun or else in other- 
wise unoccupied frames. Any cool, dry, airy place from 
which severe frosts can be excluded will answer as a 
iContiuitcd on /'rt.i^r 310.) 
307 
