Milford chronicle., 1896-06-19

Eour Essentials to Establish Ono and In
sure Its Persnanence.
This is the season when we are often
asked how to establish good lawn
and insure its permanence. Downing
names three essential requisites; l..
Deep soil. ?. Proper kinds of grass.
}. Frequent moving. For this climaJe
would add fourth that is, plenty Of
water
If the subsoiI is hard and tenacious it
should be wen un6erdrained and
trenched. or spbsoiled 10 a depth of 10
or is inches, so as to create 81 reservoir
for holding moisture which may be
drawn upon by the plants as needed
during the dry times. This matter Of
subsoiling does not receive the atten-
ton it deserves in our climate. Many
persons seem to think that if the SUR
face soil is in good condition nothing
further is needed. Such persons should
bear in mind that it is a deep soil only
which will furnish moisture for grass
roots through continued drought, so
that the lawn viii remain green during
the entire summer and autumn.
Again, too much attention cannot be
given to the preparation Of the soil be,
fore the seed is sown. It should be
plowed and replowed. cultivated, har-
rowed and rolled until the whole is
thoroughly pulveri2ed and mixed to a
depth OF ten inches This work should
be done in the fall, and then the plot
should be left to settle all winter be-
fore the seed is sown. The foundation
will then be firm. This not only makes
a compact bed which the tender grass
roots need, but it viii insure the lawn
against those little lznolls and hollows
which are so Objectionable in appear
ance and do so much to obstruct the
use of the mower.
Only two kinds of grass are really
worthy Of consideration for this cli-
mate. These are the Kentucky blue
grass (poa pratensis) and red top
(agrostis vlilgnris). There are a few
others, such as Rhode Island bent grass,
a finer kind Of agrostis. which may be
sown, but it is more expensive and
little superior to a good strain of red
top. A little sweet vernal grass or
white clover may be added, but neither
Is essential. The coarser grasses, such
as timothy, orchard grass or meadow
fescul, should never be sown in lawn.
They are short-lived and too coarse and
stiff to make a soft. velvety carpet
There are many lawn mixtures adyer-
tised and sold at high prices; some OF
them are good and win make excellent
lawns, but, if analysed, the best of
them will be found to consist mainly of
blue grass and red top. which may be
bought in the market for from s1.50 to
$3.50 bushel
To seed properly, from two to three
bushels will be required to the acre,
owing in some measure to the amount
of cuaff mixed with the seed. This
should be sown as early in the spring as
possible, so that the young plants may
become well established before the hoF,
dry weather of midsummer. The sow /
ing of oats with the seed has been rec |
commended as a protection to the
young grass plants, but I have never
yet found that a strong grass-feeding
plant like the oat would furnish pro-
lection to a delicate, slowgrowing one |
On the contrary. the so-called protector
will rob the weaker plant of its nourish-
ment Red top terminates much more !
quickly than blue grass, and will fur
nish all the protection necessary be- |
sides covering the surface with a green /
coat almost as quickly as oats viii. |
After the blue grass gets its root well |
established in deep, rich soil it will |
need no further protection, but win as
sumo entire control in very short
time.
The third essential is early and fire.
quent moving. If the grass is allowed I
to get too large before being cut the /
stubble viii be too stiff. and we lose /
that soft, velvety character which is
only produced by frequent moving.
Water must be kept in constant sup 1
ply to feed the grass. The deep-soil /
win help to do this. but
he is fortunate who can draw on some
reservoir for occasional irrigation.
Where water is always abundant less
care need be given to fertilization, 9th
erwise it viii be we'll to top dress the
lawn early every spring with 30 or 20
bushels of unleached ashes and 500 or
400 pounds of bone meal or superphos-
phate to the acre. This viii keep the
grass in thriving condition. Barn
manure is too unsightly, and should /
not be used except in localities where
snow covers the ground all winter, and
then it should be raked off as early as
possible in the spring. BY following
out the suggestions given here in PRO-
.iding the four essentials we may have
rs fine lawns in this country as they do
in England; lawns which will last life
time and be continual source Of pleas
ure 10 all who see them.-Garden and