60 
THE ELORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
Magenta Christine. —This is a very brightly-coloured and dwarf free-bloom¬ 
ing variety ; it must have good deep rich soil, otherwise it exhausts itself by the 
excessive production of flowers, and becomes shabby in appearance, but if well 
attended to, it is a charming variety for small beds. 
Advancer. —This is similar to the last, but of stronger growth, producing an 
abundance of trusses of small blossoms; it is almost a self-colour, the hue being 
very dense and bright. 
Blue Bell. —This belongs to the pink class, and is a good showy variety for 
large beds, and back rows. In the fall of the evening a blue-purple shade is 
decidedly visible in its flowers, which gives it a distinct appearance. Its growth 
being rather tall, it requires to be plunged in pots when put into good soil. 
Dante. —This is also a strong grower, but its colour is distinct from that of 
the above, having more of a salmon tint mingled with the purple-pink, which is 
soft, bright, and attractive. When bedded out in moderately rich soil, it has a 
charming effect.—H. Cannell, Woolwich. 
ON TURFING LAWNS. 
^TURFING, or the laying of turf, or spine, as it is in some places called—an 
operation of some importance in making new gardens, or altering old ones 
—consists in covering with turf the portion intended for grass, instead of 
C v sowing seeds. It is a good practical plan of proceeding, particularly if 
fine grass-turf, free from daisies and other coarse weeds, can be obtained at a 
reasonable rate near the locality. Of course there is considerable expense and 
much heavy labour attending the cutting, carting, and conveying of turf to the 
spot where it is to be used ; also in laying, beating, rolling, &c., but then when 
done, it is there, green and fresh, like an old-established place at once. On the 
other hand, one might have to wait a considerable time to obtain a good, regular, 
and thick bottom of fine grass from seeds; and however careful one might have 
been in the choosing and sowing of suitable kinds of grass, some spots are pretty 
sure to grow coarse and uneven, some obnoxious weeds to make their ap¬ 
pearance ; and these, of course, have to be eradicated, all of which adds to the 
expense. Mowing must not, moreover, be set about very early on newly- 
sown grass, however uneven its growth may appear, on account of its liability to 
suffer injury before it is well established ; while new turf, laid neatly, and kept 
well rolled, takes hold of the soil and grows away at once, and mowing can be 
set about as soon as growth has begun, as safely as on an old lawn. 
There is another kind of intermediate way of obtaining quickly a fine and 
lasting turf bottom, of which I have had in my time a great deal done, both in 
works on a large and on a small scale, but more particularly in laying down 
large lawns and broad areas of park-like land, where the immediate effect of a 
good bottom of fine grass has been required. It is done thus :—first level the 
land, leaving a loose, healthy surface; then cut or pull the turf into four-inch 
pieces, and drop these over the surface at a foot apart—a turf 3 ft. by 1 ft. will cut 
