Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-06-04
Ornamenting Walks About the Yard.

SOMETHING is always needed along the
sides of walks to keep the soil from being
worked along into the middle of the path.
For this purpose row of green sods
neatly placed on each side is frequently
preferred to any other material. The
grass, however, must be kept clipped
rather short, and the edges must be
trimmed occasionally to prevent the
grass from spreading, and thus occupy
ing more than the desired area of ground.
In some instances the sides of the walks
are embelllshed with pinks, lilies, roses
and other flowers. Many persons think
there is nothing for the borders of walks
equal to box. Others, who do not fancy
that sort of edging, employ it for the rea-
son that some florist has recommended
bex-edging as the most popular material
that can be employed for such purpose.
But as box emits an odor which is often
sive to some persons, and as it is often
more expensive than it should be, we pre-.
pare our borders with clover. Of course
it will require two seasons before the
blossoms will appear. To our own taste
for the beautiful there is no edging for
walks that can excel strip of clover
of various sorts in full bloom. The
meadows of summer, fragrant with
understanding hay, cannot vie with
the surroundings of the cottage walks
when edged with the rainbow colored in
fiorescence of the Alsike clover, inter-
spersed with the nodding planes of the
common red or the pea-vine clover. AS
we are making some new walks around
about our own country villa, the borders
are prepared in the following manner !:
On both sides of the walks the soil is
spaded deep and reduced to a mellow
condition. Where it is not in fertile
is worked in and mingled thoroughly
with the mellow bed. 1t is important
that the surface should be rich and in a
fine state of communion, as clover seed
cannot flourish luxuriantly while the
seed-bed is covered with Jumps of hard
earth. If no fine manure can be OBJ
tanned readily, apply liberal dressing
of ashes, either coal or wood ashes,
although the latter will be found more
valuable. A light dressing of guano or
superphosphate of some sort, or the
German Kainit, which is advertised so
extensively, may be employed with ex-
cellent results. After the seed-bed has
been properly prepared open three
drill-marks IN the mellow soil about four
inches apart, parallel with the walk,
in which scatter the clover seed. A
good way to form the drill-marks is to
take square stick, say four or more
feet in length, place it on the seed-bed
one corner down, and press and work it
about half an inch into the mellow SOIL
Where the walks are curved take round
stick and open drill-marks. Be careful
to make the marks parallel with the
walks. Now scatter seed of the white
Dutch clover (7rifoliatm repees) in the
first drill-mark, so that the seed will be
distributed about every half inch length
ways of the mark. In the second mark
SOW the seed of Alsike clover (7TitoEsan
hybraduna) about as thick as directed in
scattering the seed of the white clover
In the third drill sow seed of the CON-
mon red clover Iriffolaum pratense). Then
take a broom or bough of an evergreen
tree and brush the seed in lightly. If
seed were scattered three times as thick
as directed there will be no objection,
except a waste of seed. Seed of the
varieties named, and of some other va
rieties also, may be procured at most
seed stores. In some cities the seed of
other varieties of clover beside those
alluded to may be purchased usually by
the pound. In some localities the b.
kara clover (Nezizotus major) may be
sown for the sake of variety. 1t Unjust be
borne in mind that the first season the
clovers will yield no blossoms. But If
planted as directed, allowed to gain
strong foothold, then covered lightly
with straw during the winter to prevent
the roots from being lifted out by frost
the various forms of rare inforescence
will irradiate the borders of the walks
early the next season with all the
gorgeous beauty of the lily of the valley.
If cobble-stones can be placed along the
walks and washed with milk of lime.
some white, purple, blue and other colors,
the rough powders will teach impress
i've lessons on the subject of rural beau.
ty. Soon after the blossoms begin to un-
fold the clover-heads must be clipped off
for the purpose of keeping the plants in
bloom for long time. If this is not