The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1873-06-12
Correspondence of Commonwealth.
How to Make q Lawn.

Correspondence OF commonwealth.
How to Make q Lawn.
TOPEKA. June 4, 1873.
In landscape gardening one of thu
essentials is a green smooth-shaver
lawn. A landscape cannot be effective
without this. The arrangement of tho
srece aud ehrubbery. aud the laying of
cf meanderiny walks are, of course
matters of first necessity but the Wis
tas Of green sward, with their chang
ing lights and shades, are indispensable
in order TO complete the living picture
The lawn cannot receive too much at.
tention. There are multitudcs of peo-
pie, we regret to say. who know very
little about the method and labor nee
cssary to secure good lawn. IL is by
no means uncommon to hear persons
Of taste and leisure, who would be sup
posed 10 be acquainted with the sub
ject, inquire at seed store for the
seed Of that grass that grows short and
thick-just suited TO make fine green
lawn. As such seed is by no means to
be obtained, they are generally served
with package Of the common grass
seed, which, sowing and treating rs
they have heretofore done, ends i'm fall
ure and disappointment.
From the number of grasses grown
IN the states, selection NAV be had of
those well suited to make by proper
treatment good lawn. For this pur-
pose we would suggest red top, Ken
lucky blue grass, orchard grass and
timothy. Not that these are by any
means what are inquired for as pro-
ducing ''short fine grass" but as offer
ing an excellent mixture for the pur-
pose. Red top is one of the earliest
spring grasses, showing the green leaf
on the first opening of spring. Ken
lucky blue grass commences growth
the last of May, after the red top has
nearly perfected itself; and the blue
grass, being very soft-leavcd grass,
not inclined TO grow stalky, covers the
ground to a very great extent. Orchard
grass is coarse growing, but roots deep,
is very little affected by drouih, springs
up quick after being cut, and furnishes
a beautiful carpet Of green mixed with
other grasses, when without it the
lawn would not appear as well. Tim
othy answers the same purpose to
some extent.
Above all things eschew white clo-
YER. II is a nuisance, and in short
time will crowd out and ovcrrun all
the rest Of your grasses. Besides, il
will not bear close shaving, but will
present ragged and dirty appearance,
spelling the beauty of the lawn.
The seeds having been selected
should be sown on well titled ground,
made level and of fine filth, raked in
and rolled down when the ground is
not too damp, else il will become hard
on the surface and prevent the vcgeta-
ton Of the seeds.
But the planting is the smallest part
of lawn making. The great secret Of
a good lawn is in frequent and persist
ent cutting. This may be done with
scythe, but the neatest and most effect
i've way is to buy ''lawn mower"
These implements are readily handled
and keep the grass at an exactly uni
form surface. The object Of frequent
moving is TO induce root growth. Our
summers are generally pretty dry, ard
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 grass are presented, the coarse
stalk not being allowed to grow. Neg
lect, however, the frequent moving,
and no amount of planting or sodding,
or flower beds, or other ornaments can
compensate for the bad effects. Cut
at least once i'm two weeks, unless the
season becomes very dry, rake off clean.
and YOU will soon discover the true
'lawn grass" You will have a green,
velvety surface which will set off and
give effect to your paintings in a man.
ner which will even surprise yourself.