April  M.  U98 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
327 
LAWNS  AND  ALLIED  SUBJECTS. 
{Continued  from  page  ?98.) 
The  Tennis  Lawn, 
The  popular  pastime  of  lawn  tennis  being  now  regarded  as  an 
institution  in  gardens,  it  holds,  in  relation  to  our  subject,  a  prominent 
place.  There  are,  indeed,  few  places  where  the  tennis  ground  is 
not  in  evidence ;  too  much  so,  one  may  say,  by  reason  of  the  exposed 
position  it  often  occupies.  In  many  cases,  owing  to  limitation  of 
the  grounds,  this  is,  of  course,  unavoidable ;  but  many  there  are  in 
which  this  most  im^xirtant  consideration  appears  to  have  been 
overlooked,  hence  what  is  considered  an  ideal  position  (fig.  64), 
illustrates  the  meaning,  whilst  the  points  in  its  favour  may  briefly 
claim  attention. 
In  the  first  place  it  must  be  stated  that  in  considering  the  limited 
area  with  which  we  are  dealing,  any  question  of  primarily  selecting 
billiard  table.  Apropos  of  this  it  may  be  repeated  that  a  dead  level 
is  seldom  desirable,  even  with  a  tennis  ground,  but  in  this  case  it  will 
be  remarked  that  the  made-up  portion  sank  sufficiently  to  give  the 
slight  fall  desirable,  such  sinkage  being  regular,  unnoticeable,  and 
inappreciable  so  far  as  the  playing  was  concerned,  but  sufficient  to 
obviate  any  lodgment  of  water.  The  space  actually  required  for 
marking  out  the  tennis  court  is  78  by  36  feet ;  to  this  a  margin  of 
i  10  feet  at  each  end  is  advisable,  with  6  feet  on  each  side,  or,  at  a 
j  rough  calculation,  the  prepared  ground  will  be  100  by  50  feet. 
It  is  important  that  the  tennis  ground,  whatever  margin  may  be 
allowed  over  actual  requirements,  should  be  correctly  rectangular, 
thus  facilitating  the  initial  marking  out  and  necessary  measuring 
each  season.  Markers,  when  placed  at  each  corner  and  at  each 
end  of  every  white  line,  will  save  considerable  labour  during  wet 
weather,  when  the  lines  are  generally  obliterated.  Special  iron 
pins  with  flat  square  heads  are  sold  for  the  purjiose ;  but  I  prefer 
those  made  by  a  country  blacksmith  as  being  stronger,  the  former 
being  liable  to  lose  their  heads. 
Fig.  G4.— the  TENNIS  GROUND— AN  IDEAL  POSITION. 
References,— Portion  of  Park  ;  2,  Pleasure  Grounds  and  Seats  under  Trees  ;  3,  Steps  with  Vases  ;  I,  Tennis  Ground  on  Sloping?  Lawn. 
the  most  level  ground  obtainable  for  the  scene  of  operations  need  not 
be  entertained.  A  little  explanation  of  the  view  given  will,  however, 
be  the  best  interpretation.  Proximity  to  the  residence  is  the  first 
point  in  its  favour,  whilst  the  privacy  afforded  by  the  screen  of  foliage, 
which  not  only  almost  excludes  the  building  from  view  but  the 
carriage  approach  to  it,  so  that  visitors  catling  avoid  that  rather 
awkward  contretemps  of  seeing  the  family  when  “  not  at  home.” 
Ample  shelter  on  a  hot  day  is  also  afforded  to  on-lookers  by  seats 
being  freely  disposed  under  some  fiiie  trees  in  the  foreground,  as  well  ' 
as  to  players  from  a  passing  shower,  whilst  the  view  commanded 
from  this  sequestered  nook,  embracing  a  broad  sweep  of  the  park,  is,  j 
to  say  the  least,  satisfying. 
As  will  be  noted,  the  position  is  on  rather  sharply  falling  ground 
towards  the  park  railing  as  well  as  longitudinally.  The  fall  lengthwise 
of  that  portion  comprising  the  tennis  ground  being  previous  to  levelling 
4  feet.  This  necessitated  an  excavation  of  2  feet  at  the  corner 
where  the  grass  steps  are  formed,  and  the  raising  of  the  lower  end 
by  2  feet  with  the  .'oil  removed.  The  hard  pan  existing  at  the 
excavated  end  was  well  broken  up,  and  special  precaution  taken  that 
the  made-up  portion  at  the  lower  end  was  well  consolidated  by 
ramming  and  tramping  as  the  work  proceeded.  Previous  to  turfing 
a  liberal  dressing  with  the  compost  previously  prescribed  was  given 
to  it,  and  wl’cn  completed  the  new  tennis  ground  was  as  level  ns  a 
Experience  teaches  the  value  of  observing  what  may  be  considered 
as  trifles;  hence  such  details  are  thought  to  be  worthy  of  inclusion 
here.  “  Please  have  the  tennis  ground  marked  at  once,”  is  an 
order  not  infrequently  given,  and  a  rather  nice  operation  which 
few  workmen  accomplish  as  I,  at  least,  like  to  see  it;  so,  with 
the  assistance  of  a  boy,  generally  do  it  myself.  Good  whiting  is 
the  only  satisfactory  medium  for  marking,  and  this,  mixed  with 
water  to  the  consistency  of  thick  cream,  is  easily  applied  with  one 
or  other  of  the  machines  generally  used.  Mowing  the  tennis  lawn 
when  in  frequent  use  must  enter  into  our  calculation.  In  this  case, 
the  best  method  is  to  make  a  daily  operation  of  it ;  it  is  then  always 
ready. 
In  the  place  from  which  the  illustration  is  taken  the  rule  Is  for  one 
of  the  pleasure-ground  men  to  run  his  hand  machine — one  of  the  light 
running  16-inch  mowers,  with  the  grass-box  attached — over  it  every 
morning  before  breakfast,  weather  permitting;  and  it  is  preferred  to 
keep  the  one  machine  specially  for  this  piuqwse.  A  daily  run  with 
the  roller  over  new-made  grounds  is  advisable.  “  What  a  lot  of  pains 
you  take  with  your  tennis  ground,”  a  neighbour  remarked.  True,  it 
was  admitted;  but  the  “lot  of  pains”  experience  proves  to  give 
least  trouble  in  the  long  run,  with  satisfaction  to  all  concerned. — 
Sylva. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
