The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-07-05
FARM AND GARDEN.
How to Make u Lawn.

In landscape gardening one of the essen
tails is green, smooth-shaved lawn A land
scspe cannot be effective without this. The
arrangement of the trees and shubbery anc
the laying out of meandering walks are, OF
course, matters of first necessity; but the Wis
las Of green sward, with their changing lights
and shades, are Indispensable, in order tc
complete the living picture. The lawn can
not receive too much attention. There are
multitudes of people, we regret to say, who
know very little about the method and labor
necessary to secure good lawn. 1t is by nc
means uncommon to hear persons OF taste and
leisure, who would be supposed to be &C
ulainted with the subject, inquire at seed
store for the seed of that grass which grows
short and tbick-iust suited to make fine
Green lawn. As such seed is by no means to
he obtained they are generally served with a
package of some of the common grass seeds
which, sowing and treating as they have here
tnfore DONE ends in failure and disappoint
ment.
From the number of grasses grown in the
States a selection may be had of those well
suited to make by proper treatment good
lawn For this purpose we would suggest
red top Kentucky blue grass, orchard grass
and timothy. Not that these are by any
means what are inquired for as producing
short fine grass" but as offering an excel
lent mixture for the purpose. Red top is one
of the earliest spring grasses, showing the
green leaf on the first opening Of spring
Kentucky blue grass commences vigorous
growth the last of May, after the red top has
nearly perfected itself; and the blue grass, be.
ing very softeaved grass, not inclined to
grow stalky, covers the ground to very
great extent Orchard grass is coarse-grow.
ing, but roots deep, is very little affected by
drouth, springs up quick after being cut, and
furnishes beautiful carpet of green mixed
with the other grasses, when without 1t the
lawn would not appear as well. timothy
answers the same purpose to some extent.
Above all things eschew white clover. 1t
is an utter nuisance, and in a short time will
crowd out and overrun all the rest of your
grasses. Besides, it will not bear close SHAY.
ing, but will present Il ragged and dirty ap-
pearance, spelling the beauty of the lawn.
The seeds having been selected should be
sown on well-tillcd ground, made level and OF
fine filth, rakcd in and rolled down when the
ground is not too damp, else it will become
hard on the surface and prevent the vegeta.
lion oft the seeds. "Sodding," if your grounds
are not extensive, will give you lawn a year
earlier.
But the planting is the smallest part Of
lawn-making. The great secret of II good
lawn is in frequent and persistent cutting.
This may be done with a scythe, but the
ncatcst and most effective way is to buy a
lawn mower" These implements are read
lily handled and keep the grass at an exactly
uniform surface. The object OF frequent
moving is to induce root growth. Our sum
mers are generally pretty dry; and when grass
has been kept short during the early part of
The season, it is not so apt to burn in hot
weather With frequent cutting, nothing but
the leaves of the grasses are presented, the
coarse stalk not being allowed to grow, Ne.
elect however, the frequent moving, and no
amount of planting or soddng, or flower beds
Or other ornaments can compensate for the
bad effects Cut at least once in two weeks,
unless the season becomes very dry, rake of
clean and you will soon discover the true
" lawn grass" You will have green, vel
yety surface, which will set off and give effect
to your paintings in IL manner which will
even surprise yourself.-SprinGfed (iO. Jour
uuI