Difficult Spots on the Lawn 
BY EVELYN PRINCE CAHOON 
O N the south side of the place, sloping toward the 
ravine, is the part of the lawn that we tried for a 
long time to idealize into a grassy decline beneath the elms. 
Though the elms were there, the decline (on the part of the 
grass to grow) was so persistent as 
to quite overshadow the idealism 
of it all. 
One day we thought of that queer 
little plant, with round aromatic 
leaves and miniature blue flowers, 
and the thing was done. 
At the home of a friend we 
gathered something like a bushel 
basket full of the trailing vines; 
we scored the ground in the stubborn 
shade so as to make shallow grooves 
about an inch deep and possibly 
eighteen inches apart (a foot would 
have been better), and crossing 
each other at right angles. 
Here we laid the trailing vines, 
covered them with rich earth, leav¬ 
ing only the leaves exposed, watered 
them once well, and then, because 
the fall work crowded on rapidly, 
forgot the vines until one day in 
November attention was called to 
the fact that they had rooted and 
already made a fairly good growth, 
which this summer has increased to 
a complete cover for the bare place. 
The name of the vine is Colecoma 
Hederacea, commonly called Jill- 
over-the-Ground, or Ground-ivy. 
It is a common thing, but is patient, 
thrifty and hardy, and will make a 
green carpet where the dainty grass, 
even of the varieties selected for 
shady places, will not deign to set 
her feet. 
A slope between the carriage 
drive and fence, facing the south, 
dry both because of its exposure to 
sun and wind and because of its 
steep grade and consequent drainage 
is always bright and green with it. 
Another steep bank comes to 
mind. It does not present a prob¬ 
lem because of its shade, but on the 
contrary is for half the day in the 
direct glare of the southern sun, on 
the side of a declivity, I suppose a 
dozen feet high, and consequently 
drained quickly of any rain that may fall upon its surface. 
In addition to this, it is in an uncared-for place where the 
roots of some great maple trees have for years drained 
the soil, one would think, of everything to sustain plant 
life. 
Growing lustily there, literally flourishing, is a great mat 
of Convolvulus minor; it should be planted in the same way 
the former vine was managed or may be grown from seed, 
if the seed is gotten into the ground in the fall. Its tiny 
white trumpets, each the size of a 
silver quarter, swaying daintily in 
the wind against a background of 
deep, dark green leaves equally tiny, 
form a picturesque and perfectly 
practical change from the monoto¬ 
nous though beautiful grass. 
Bordering the stone sidewalk of 
a city street, where there are no 
fences, and the dogs and cats run 
at their own sweet will over what¬ 
ever may be planted, there is a 
great glorious spread of single 
portulacca. The sun blazes merci¬ 
lessly, and the ground bakes almost 
to the condition of yellow pottery, 
but every sunny morning the portu- 
laccas smile brilliantly, being pos¬ 
sibly the only creatures in that 
crowded neighborhood who were 
able to sleep the night before. 
They will stand literally any 
amount of heat short of a conflagra¬ 
tion, provided only that they have 
a good start in the spring. I am not 
aware that the portulacca is any 
less sensitive to bad usage in its 
babyhood than are other annu¬ 
als. 
The seed should be bought by the 
ounce in the fall and immediately, 
before the cold weather comes, 
scattered broadcast over the sur¬ 
face to be covered and pressed in 
with the feet or with the flat of the 
spade. 
For a short time in the spring 
they must be kept weeded, but will, 
after their start, crowd out every¬ 
thing else. 
The memorial rose is a beautiful 
plant for a shady spot, provided 
only that it has plenty of rich earth 
for its roots to sport in; it dearly 
loves the sun, but can get along with 
very little of it, provided it is not 
stinted of good rich food for its roots. 
The leaves are small, and glossy 
dark green, and its pearly white 
blossoms make a charming contrast when in bloom. 
Unlike the other plants which are named above, the me¬ 
morial rose must not be planted where there will be much 
walking. 
(Continued on page 6.) 
Ground-ivy on a dry, shady slope where grass 
will not grow 
Convolvulus minor, flourishing on a steep, sunny 
bank of poor soil 
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Bordering a city sidewalk, where dogs roam at will, 
grows this spread of single portulacca 
( 94 ) 
