Lawns—Grasperke. 
THEIR PREPARATION AND UPKEEP. 
In order to produce a good dense turf of good fine texture it is necessary 
that the soil should be well prepared beforehand and that the right seed should be 
used—a mixture containing only the finer grasses and such as do not become tufty. 
The following notes will be found helpful. 
Preparation of the Soil. —This should bo taken in hand well in advance and 
the soil should be worked up again and again to a good depth during the warm 
weather so that the sun may have an opportunity of penetrating to all parts 
of the soil and exerting its beneficial influence. Stones and other coarse matter 
should be removed and the ground thoroughly pulverised wherever necessary. A 
good Fertilizer should be applied while this preparation is being carried out. The 
best lor the purpose is our Special Grass Fertilizer and it should be used at the 
rate of 4 to 6 ozs. per square yard. After thoroughly working up the soil as 
described it should be consolidated by rolling or trampling, or other suitable means, 
and the surface should be raked over carefully to provide a seed-bed. 
Sowing the Seed. —In districts with a winter rainfall this should preferably 
be done in the autumn and Starke’s Kudulawn Grass should be used at the rate 
of 5 oz. to the square yard. This thick sowing is necessary in order to provide 
a dense turf from the start. It is much better to secure a good result at the 
commencement than to endeavour to patch it afterwards. The seed should be 
lightly covered by raking or brushing the surface with a bunch of twigs or by 
dragging a light bush harrow over it and if any uncovered seed remains it should 
be covered by a light dusting of fine soil. 
Top Dressing. —Frequent top dressing with soil is not desirable unless to 
even up the ground. If the grass is cut frequently the clippings may be allowed 
to remain on the lawn and will prove of great benefit to it as they decay and 
provide a good protection to the roots during the hot weather. They also add 
to the humus in the soil which assists in making the plant food available. A 
light dressing of our Special Grass Fertilizer should be applied each season. 
Weeds. —These will always make their appearance in new lawns in spite of the 
most careful preparation and treatment. They are always present in the soil and 
must be removed if the finer grasses are to have a fair chance. Hand-weeding is 
usually resorted to but much can be done by continuous mowing once the lawn grass 
is well established. 
Lawn Grass Seed Mixture* 
A good and reliable Lawn Mixture is a necessity for good results whether with 
new lawns or in the renovation of old lawns that require re-seeding. Our Kudulawn 
Mixture contains only the choicest seeds of the varieties most suited for this 
purpose, and we have every confidence in recommending it to our clients as the 
very best and most suitable mixture for the peculiar conditions of this country. 
Starke’s Kudulawn Mixture.— Per lb 2/6; 10 lbs 20/-; 25 lbs 45/-; 100 lbs 160/-. 
KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS. 
This grass is included in the Kudulawn Mixture but it also makes an excellent 
lawn when sown alone and is particularly recommended in districts where frosts are 
severe. It is quoted in page 8 with the pasture grasses. When Kentucky Blue Grass 
is sown alone the seeding need not be so heavy as recommended for the mixture. If it 
is carefully treated in every way £ oz. per square yard should be sufficient. 
LAWN GRASSES FROM ROOT CUTTINGS. 
Lawn Grasses. —After the first autumn rains is a particularly good time for 
planting a lawn, thus enabling it to become well established before the cold weather 
sets in. The following grasses can be supplied for this purpose: 
Kikuyu Grass ... 7/6 per sack. Broad Quick ... 5/- per sack. 
Fine Quick ... 7/6 per sack. 
AUSTIN TRACTORS. 
We hold the LARGEST STOCK IN SOUTH AFRICA of Spare Parts for these 
popular Farm Tractors. Write or wire us wnen you are in trouble—perhaps we «an 
help you. 
Page ten. 
