The evening times., 1899-05-09
WHITE HOUSE LAWN
MENACED BY Weeds
Troublesome GroWths on Gov.
ernment TurfS.
Flowing May be Necessary to Erad
ica!e the Pests.
The President's Gardener Greatly
Perturbed by the InvasiOn-Cam-
pntEn Being Planned.

The Government lawns In Washington
are threatened with destruction. The
lawns of the White House, the Capitol.
and the Agricultural Department have
been invaded by those three great foes OF
fine turf, dandelions. plantains, and trat
species of paspslum which is SO trouble
some from Pennsylvania southward. FOX
tail, crab grass. and goose grass have also
put in appearance, and 1t is quite hhey
that the lawns mentioned Will have TO De
given over to the plow. Another turf pest
which is very much in evidence In the
White House grounds is chickweed, and
Bermuda grass is doing its utmost to root
out the different varieties of blue grass.
fescue grass, Rhode Island bent grass and
Italian rye-grsss, which for years have
beautified the Government grounds at
Washington.
f. Lamson- -Scribner, agrostologist of the
Agricultural Department has given it as
his opinion that annual weeds like fox
tail and crab grass may be removed real
lily, but perennials such as dandeiions and
plantains, are more difficult OF eradication,
and where weeds of this character have
been allowed to become abundant the sim
plest remedy. generally speaking, is 10
plow the land and start afresh.
The re-establishment of those lawns that
were once SO fine cannot be brought about
quickly. perfect lawn cannot be made
in season. and the highest excellence
sought comes only through intelligent care
for period of years. green surface
may be secured within few months, un-
der favorable conditions. but soft, vel
vety turf. which is both pleasing to the
eye and solid under the foot, comes oniy
with years of patient care.
The principal cause of the deterioration
of the Government glass plots has been
under-fertilization. The soil has been
washed out in the course of years. and the
weeds taking advantage of the encourage
mept. have practically overpowered the
grass, which, by its nature demands soil
richer in vegetable foods than is required
for the growth OF weeds. Weeds will thrive
on land where grass will starve.
Henry Pfister, head gardener OF the
White House. has expressed himself as
greatly perturbed over the situation, and
the gardeners at the Agricultural Depart
ment are in despair. They have not as yet
abandoned their efforts to save the lawns.
but it is their belief that the plow will
have to be put into the grounds this fall.
II Is laid down in the textbooks OF the
Department of Agriculture that, if the land
is very weedy and it is desired to make
a lawn. corn, or potatoes should be culti-
waited on the ground for one season as the
most effective means of reducing the weedy
growth. 1t is unlikely, however. that the
spectacle of a crop OF corn and potatoes
growing in front of the White House will
be presented. 1t is probable that the sod
will be top-dressed in the fall with well
rotted stable or barnyard manure and the
sod then turned in by blowing The decom-
position of this sod will add to the soil that
most valuable fertilizing element, humus.
In the following spring. top dressing
CT old. well-composted manure may be ap-
piled at about the rate OF ten cords an
acre and the land will then be crossed
plOwed- The surface will then be made as
fine as possible by repeated harrowings and
thorough rolling before the seed is sown.
When the grass begins to flourish there
will be dressings In the fall with a fine
compost and in the spring there will be
added to this dressing of bone meal and
hard wood ashes.
1t is said that the question of the variety
of the seed to be sown has already been
considered. Only those grasses with creep
| ing root-stocks, or with creeping habit
| of growth form continuous turf, hence
it is one of these varieties which will be
| chosen for the public lawns in the Dis
trict. 1t is said that Kentucky blue grass
| will be planted. This grass forms sod
| by its creeping rhiZomes. which are all
under ground. These send up at fire.
| quent intervals leafy shoots. which form
| the turf of the lawn. Under the usual
conditions. these leafy shoots are not nu-
merous enough to make the soft, springy
turf desired, hence it is probable that
| some of the finer varieties of fescues OF
/ bent grasses may be blended with the blue
! grass.
| 1t is emphasized by agrostologists that
the best lawns. those presenting the best
| turf and the greatest uniformity in color
| and texture, consist of pure cultures OF
single varieties. but the most beautiful
| green is said to be that of blue grass and
the solidity and springiness Of the turf
must be produced by another variety.
| II may be that a flock of sheep will be
introduced into the Agricultural grounds
to perform the service of lawn mowers
| 1t is alleged that there cannot be found 8
better turf. of finer or more even texture
or more pleasant to walk on. than in some
| of the pastures near the New England
coast, which have been grazed by sheer
| for the last hundred years.
The value of sheep in turf formation has
been recognized by the managers Of public
| parks. This is notably the case in Cen
IL, U-rly nj r,,id Do VII