APRIL. 103 
opposite an open sash, and got air in abundance night and day; when it 
had covered the trellis it was allowed to flower, which it did abundantly. 
If it is grown for exhibition, I would here recommend that the pot in 
which it is grown be laid on its side for a few days previous to the day 
it is wanted, as the flowers will rise up from the foliage and have a nice 
effect when set up again. 
The soil it was grown in was four parts light turfy loam, one part 
decayed leaves, and one part old cow-dung. After the last shift it got, 
and when well rooted, it was watered about once a fortnight with weak 
liquid manure. 
Spring wood Park. George Wemyss. 
ON IMPROVING AND FORMING LAWNS. 
A great, if not the greatest, charm appended to country residences is 
the closeness and verdure of the turf belonging to the dressed grounds 
or lawns. In no other country is there anything to be compared with 
a well kept British lawn. This, no doubt, arises in a great measure 
from the natural humidity of our climate; besides which, more expense 
and care are bestowed on them, in having them frequently mowed and 
rolled and annually removing coarse grasses and weeds. With these 
appliances, and with the many natural advantages which the soil and 
climate of Britain present for the growth of the great family of Grasses, 
we need not be surprised that our lawns far eclipse anything so called 
on the Continent. 
But, notwithstanding this, it is not always easy or possible to 
maintain Grass lawns up to the state of high keeping in which, above all 
things, it is desirable they should appear. Inattention to mowing them 
regularly and at short intervals, and weeding, will soon throw them out 
of order ; the stronger growing Grasses will soon overgrow the weaker, 
ones and usurp their place; and various weeds will vegetate, get the 
upper hand, and destroy the Grass adjoining. On damp or very rich 
soils the above evils are increased, and in the autumn worms are 
troublesome by throwing up casts, which render the surface unsightly; 
while on very poor soils, or over-dry lawns, the turf is apt to burn 
during weather, and besides producing a class of weeds peculiar 
to the soil, the larva of a small species of Melalontha (the May-bug) 
causes much mischief in dry autumns by eating off the roots of the 
Grasses, which are pulled up wholesale by birds for the purpose of feeding 
on the grubs ; bare patches with the turf destroyed are the conse¬ 
quence, and a most difficult affair it is to deal with them, so as to 
avoid the lawns having a mended or patchy appearance. Any of these 
defects produce a sensible detraction ftom the order and keeping of well 
managed grounds, and more particularly when the Grass accompanies 
flower-beds or parterres. It is therefore essential to have this depart¬ 
ment as near perfection as possible, seeing it so materially enhances the 
beauties of the whole, and makes the circle of enjoyment and continuity 
of thorough keeping complete. 
I beg first to notice the improvement of existing lawns, as they are 
