Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-05-14
Grasses for Lawn and DOoryard.

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There is q lack of practical informa-
ton as to the grasses best adapted to
lawns and dooryards What we get
from books is far from being satisfac-
tory, while the lawns of the country give
little desired information. This paucity
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, so
that what applies to one section and to
one kind of soil, will not do equally well
for another, the different plants requir-
ing different soil and climate. Yet in the
older States there ought to be 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. l
refer to orchard grass. For a large
lawn and allowing it to grow, cutting it
just before it puts forth its stalk, it does
very well. Indeed, have never seen a
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 a 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 extends
up to the boles of the trees if the fertili-
ty is kept up, as it endures shade we'll.
| would not advise it in q small lawn
or dooryard, where a closer, finer and
evener green is desirable.
POG prGtenSiS is recommended as an
ornamental grass. The fault with it is
that it will not 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. 1t 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 thrive:
exceedingly, maintaining itself perma.
nently, and is apt, either alone or in
connection with timothy, to drive out all
other grasses, growing with density
and luxuriance that | have never seen
surpassed. 1t is therefore suited to
dooryards orlawns having moist ground
if such should occur. 1t will not do fol
dry land. Although it may maintain
its foothold in the absence of crowd OF
other grasses, it will suffer, make slow
progress, is easily checked by heat OIL
drouth, and its light green color assume:
dull, pale cast. In moist season il
will recuperate and show well, but fol
general ornamentation it will not do.
White clover, though not grass, is 9
favorite in dooryards, and looks well il
lawn where a moist season sometime!
pushes forth, as it is native here
growing best on our elevated drift Of
hemlock soil, and densely, displacins
other small vegetables if the soil is en-
riched, particularly if gypsum is applied
This, then, is good fertilizer where it il
desired to introduce white clover, which
makes nice carpet and withstands hea
pretty well, being moisture-lovins
, plant, like red-top and timothy, over
powering and running out both ordinar
lily, especially if aided by plaster, which
! favors the clover more and the gras
, less. 1t commenced running over m,
> dooryard two years ago, and it will
,, probably make a finish of the grass TIT
coming season. encouraged it by ir
rigation and plaster, as. i could not rel,
upon the grasses, the extreme hea
scalding and whitening them, situated
as the dooryard is, without trees to shad
: it, and fayoring the concentration of TIN
rays Of the sun. have Tried timothy
but it was injured by heat in conjunction
with dlouth, and the other grasse
speedily drove it out, as the clover in turf
is driving out the grasses.
There are dooryards in the villag
here that for many years have produced
,, nothing but red-top and the small blu
! grass, "a dense, unfailing growth from yea
to year, without manure; the soil
deep, rich loan, partially shaded b.
trees. The fertility is maintained b
the clippings. Whether manuring woult
, bring in white clover or other grasses
or whether those now present woul,
! thicken and maintain themselves, is al
/, interesting question. Were the sol
other than it is, there would doubles
be change, and if clay, the chang
would be effected without manure.
similar effect results by transferring So
less if the sod is quite thick-for tn
subsoil has an important influence upo
grass in our hot, dry and changeabl
climate. We see this effect strikingl
: in open, permanent grass land, whic
always has a more or less wet subsoil-
: less and less permanent as you adyanc
7 toward light, sandy condition. O
I such moist, permanent grass land, va
b. riety of grasses is usually found; neve