Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1864-1865, 1865-04-06
Vol. =. No. 10.

j. ffom tie American Aeticullurist.l
{ MAKING ALAwN OR GRASS PLOT.
T. What carpet is TO well furnished
!, rooms, a lawn IS u tue graands H.
: they large or small. As the finest
furniture looks finer apon a well
chosen carpet, 50 every plant. wheth.
/ er the humble annual, or the stately
evergreen, shows al the better when
Il Is set OF against well kept turf
10 make q good and permanent
lawn, the preparation must be thor.
oHgh. Drainage IS all important.
and ii necded Cor the adjoining gar
den, Il must &c provided for the
lawn. The preparation of the soil
must be rs carefully attended TO NJ
E II for some garden crop. Trenching
must he practised on small places,
and deep ploWing on larger ones
BY the use OF sub soiler or hv
running plow two or three times
in the same furrow, sufficiently deep
tilth may be secured. Manure will
usually bc needed 10 enrich the soil.
and when the work Of preparation
can be begun sufficiently long before
hand, crop of oats may be sowed in
the spring, and plowed in, TO he fol-
lowed by enc of luckwheat which is
also 20 be turned under. Thorough
narrowing is required, and all inc
qualities of surface must he remedied,
by the use of the shovel or scraper.
In small plots, the final dressing OF
the surface can be done with the hoe
and rake. Sow the seed as early in
spring rs the ground can be made
ready, and roll Mixtures OF grass
seeds are sold by socdsmen rs lawn
grass seed, but our experience with
these has not been favorable. Some
consider that Red-top and White
Clover in the proportion of three OF
the grass to one of clover, make the
best mixture for a lawn, but our own
experience agrees with those who
prefer lawn Of one kind of grass
only. Wherever it will flourish well,
the kentucky Blue Grass (see page
ll3) forms 4 most perfect turf
seed is used, il should be
sown very thickly, as the closeness
of the sward depends on thick seed
inc. Three or four bushels OF seed
TO the acre are none too much
1t often helps the grass much TO giyo
il 4 top dressing of plaster, when it
has made growth of one inch or SO.
Weeds will make their appearance
from seeds already in the soil, and
from those sown with the grass seed.
II Will save much after trouble TO re-
move the weeds while young. When
Inc fine lawns or Central Park wero
irst established, long lines of men
could be seen upon their knees, re-
moving every weed that sprang up
among the young grass. When the
grass has become we'll established
md Of sufficient length, it may bo
moved, leaving the mowings as
mulch TO the roots. 1t IS advisable,
whenever the lawn borders on the
walk, road, or aower- bed, TO lay
Town an cdging Of turf, six or eight
nches in width, rs this gives much
leater appearance, and enables us to
,ecp the edge Of the lawn well de-
ined. Small grass plots are more
eadily made by laying close and
inc turf from q fine pasture, but the
anne care should be given 10 pre-
'aring and leveline the ground, aud
he sod should bc laid in n neat and
manner. If the pieco
o be covered is not very large, strips
nay be cut TO reach across it. Pro-
-ide n board Q to L inches wide, and
With a sod-cutter, or sharp spade,
mt by each edge of the board through
he turf. Then loosen the strip at
me end, sliding spade under it.
nd roll it carefully, and convey it to
he place where it is to be laid.