The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-05-20

Grasses for Lawn and DeoFyard.
There is . lack of practical informa-
ton a. to the grasses best adapted to
lawns and dooryards. What We get
from books Is far from being satisfsc-
tory, while the lawns of the country give
little desired information. This paacity
of accurate knowledge is, to large ex-
tent, owing to the diversity OF soil and
climate, which affects the character of
the grasses throughout the country, 80
that what applies to one section and to
one kind of soil, will not do equally wek
for another, the different plants requir-
ing different soil and climate. : in the
older States there ought to .s expert
ence enough to afford safe and salts
factory guide for that section.
What is wanted in lawn and dooryard
is a perpetual green from early spring
to late fall, and through all the varia-
tons of the season, not excepting the
great drouths which, instead of killing
the grass, should only dim its freshness
and check its growth for the time, to
start again at once after that and rapid
ly assume its wonted verdure. There
is one grass that answers this purpose,
but, unfortunately, it is not otherwise
suitable, as it appears in tussocks. I
refer to orchard grass. For large
lawn and allowing it to grow, cutting it
just before it puts forth its stalk, it does
very well. Indeed, l have never seen
large lawn in other grasses equal to one
covered with the heavy, advanced
growth of this grass, always luxuriant
on rich ground. Beside, the occasional
cuttings afford heavy yield of the best
hay, and the grass rapidly shoots up
again, so that in few days the surface
is green. Its beauty is in the long
leaves it puts forth, shooting up at first,
then bending down, arched over the
ground, its numerous tufts showing with
some distinctness, which gives that
beautiful variety to the surface which
can not be obtained of equal grace and
richness in any other grass. 1t estsnds
up to the boles of the trees if the fertili-
ty is kept up, as it endures shade well.
would not ad-ise it in a small lawn
or dooryard, where closer, finer and
evener green is desirable.
P0G prdtensis is recommended as an
ornamental grass. The fault with it is
that it will rot endure the hot, dry
weather of July and August, though ex-
cellent early and late in the season. On
land facing the north, and in places
somewhat shaded, it does well as sin
gle grass, and only as such should it be
used, as, like orchard grass, it grows too
fast for most other grasses. In few
days after moving it shoots up above
them, giving provokingly uneven and
ragged appearance to the surface.
have had much annoyance in this way.
This shows the necessity, where more
grasses than one are employed, to have
them of equal size..
Red-top has its advantages. It is one
of the most common native grasses one
meets here, and is pretty sure to work
its way into meadow and pasture if time
be given it. In moist, rich soil it thrives
exceedingly, maintaining itself perma-
nently, and is apt, either alone or in
connection with timothy, to drive out all
other grasses, growing with a density
and luxuriance that have never seen
surpassed. It is therefore suited to
dooryards orlawns having moist ground,
if such should occur. It will not do for
dry land. Although it may maintain
its foothold in the absence of q crowd of
other grasses, it will suffer, make slow
progress, is easily checked by heat or
drouth, and its light green color assumes
q dull, pale cast. In q moist season it
will recuperate and show well, but for
general ornamentation it will not do.
White clover, though not a grass, is q
favorite in dooryards, and looks we'll in
q lawn where moist season sometimes
pushes forth, as it is a native here,
growing best on our elevated drift or
hemlock soil, and densely, displacing
other small vegetables if the soil is en-
riched, particularly if gypsum is applied.
This, then, is good fertilizer where it is
desired to introduce white clover, which
makes a nice carpet and withstands heat
pretty we'll, being a mOisture-loving
plant, like red-top and timothy, over
towering and running out both ordinar-
lily. especially if aided by plaster. which
favors the clover more and the grass
less. 1t commenced running over my
dooryard two years ago, and it will
probably make q finish OF the grass the
coming season. encouraged it by ir-
rigation and plaster, as could not rely
upon the grasses, the extreme heat
scalding and whitening them, situated
as the dooryard is, without trees to shade
it, and favoring the concentration of the
rays of the sun. have tried timothy,
but it was injured by heat in conjunction
with drouth, and the other grasses
speedily drove it out, AS the clover in turn
is driving out the grasses.
There are dooryards in the village
here that for many years have produced
nothing but red-top and the small blue
grass, a dense, unfailing growth from year
to year, without manure; the soil q
deep, rich loan, partially shaded by
trees. The fertility is maintained by
the clippings. Whether manuring would
bring in white clover or other grasses.
or whether those now present would
thicken and maintain themselves, is an
interesting question. Were the sol
other than it is, there would doubtless
be a change, and if clay, the change