12 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
nomical to sow seeds than to lay turf. The soil must be 
prepared as advised for turf, except that no .gas-lime or 
ashes must be placed on the surface. The surface soil 
must be well worked to get it into a fine tilth. When fine 
and level sow the seeds on a fine calm day early in March 
or September. Walk up the plot and sow evenly with the 
hand, and then across the plot in a similar fashion. This 
will ensure the seed being evenly distributed. Next lightly 
rake the surface over, and then roll it up and down and 
across. One pound of seed is sufficient to sow a square 
rod of ground. If worm casts should appear before the 
grass, run the roller over the plot on a fine day, but do not 
roll after the grass comes up until it has been cut for the 
first time. Cut when the grass is about three inches high. 
After this roll occasionally, and cut at intervals of a week. 
For the first three cuttings use a scythe only, then the 
machine, which should be so adjusted as not to cut too 
closely. In summer the machine may be used twice a 
week. A lawn or tennis ground sown in March should not 
be used till late in summer, but one sown in September 
will be fit to use the next summer. Of the two seasons 
September is the best for sowing, as then there is more 
moisture in the soil and the herbage makes a stronger 
growth. Newly-sown lawns require protection from birds. 
The simplest method is to run strands of black cotton 
backwards and forwards down and across the ground. 
When purchasing lawn seeds go to one of the leading 
seedsmen, tell him the character of your soil, and then he 
will send a mixture of kinds specially adapted for the soil 
and district. For slopes and raised margins turf will be 
found better than seeds, as it is difficult to sow the latter 
to ensure a regular, dense growth. For hints on the 
general care and management of lawns see another chapter 
further on. See Design for Tennis Lawn (Fig. 3). 
Shrubberies. — In small gardens there is usually not 
room for a shrubbery proper. In this case shrubs have to 
be grown singly in the hardy plant border, or in groups. 
In larger gardens, however, there is room for a good belt 
of trees and shrubs around the boundaries and in large 
beds in other parts of the garden to serve to screen off one 
