The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-11-17
FARMER AND PLANTER.
LAWNS IN THE SOUTH.
Preparations and Conditions Neces-
sary to Secure and Maintain .
Good Lawn In the south.

Good Lawn In the south.
| The preparation of the soil for
lawn and the care in its maintenance
In parts of the south are so differen
from the ordinary, established meth
DDS in the northern states that 1 fee
it might be well to bring the two sec
tions into comparison.
Wherever Kentucky blue grass i
natural enough to the soil to show it
self everywhere by the roadside o.
abandoned fields or open woodland
it is easy enough to have lawn ant
to arrange the shrubbery and trees
according to our fancy; but when VIZ
leave these favored lands ard at
tempt to make a blue grass lawn
there are certain natural reasons fol
there being more effort needed. The
proper conditions for blue grass are
chiefly rich soil and not too long
continued heat.
Thus we find the favorite grass in
Kentucky. because the soil, in some
portions is very rich; in parts of Vir-
glnia there is no blue grass in the
very same latitude, because there ex-
lists poorer soil; again in the noun
famous parts of Virginia where the
soil 10 rich and the climate is modi-
ned by the altitude we again find it in
luxuriant growth.
Following along down the great val
ley it is everywhere seen at an eleya-
ton above 1900 feet terminating in
the south mountain ranges in the
Carolinas, hundreds of miles south.
but in cooler climate than tide-wa-
ter Virginia or Maryland.
10 make permanent lawn then.
where the grass we need seems to re-
fuse to grow, calls for rich soil and
plenty of shade.
In Piedmont, Virginia, and North
Carolina the only lawns that appear
TO be permanent are those where fhe
shade OF large oaks, elms or some
high forest trees spread their protect
ng arms over the greater portion of
The grass and protect it from the
burning rays of sub-tropical sun.
In these sections the paintings of |
'rees can not be arranged in grouDs
Is is the custom in cooler places; thew |
must be arranged SO that a few hours |
II the changing shade falls ON the
Whole area.
With this plan carried out there is
title need for irrigation as the rain
all is generally sufficient to MAIN
am luxuriant growth of both trees
nd grass, and in fact the grass under
hese trees not only beauties the
andscape but proves to be a BLESSING.
s 1t holds much more of the water
hat sometimes falls pretty fast in
nmmer showers.
Lower down in the valley another
parse annual grass almost threatens
ne life of the more humble blue
rass. This is barnyard grass (Pani-
nm crus-gallD.
All summer long these grasses hold
reen In spite of hot weather. but ,
re very first frost and they give up.
All this time the blue grass and
hlte clover have been lying low. re-
'sing to compete in growth with
leir more sturdy, but shorter-lived !
iatIons, and what proves death to !
e ooastful ANNALS is life to the =
rennial blue grass. Soon after the
40 grasses die, their places are oc-
pied by the permanent grass and t
nat has held it down all summer .
w becomes plant food and with the =,
oier weather of fall and rains n |.
~ dark blue hue is noticed, and our "
Vn Is on the highway to permanent +,
sometimes the annual grasses grow "
thlckly in spots that the blue grass =,
out. A little seed sprin- II
a IN these places will patch up the n,
w. and by the next year all will @,
* alike.
me second year finds the blue grass IS
white clover so well established. 81
u the annual grasses find little in r.
est In invading the territory. Some ca
might ask: "Why not sow in the W
IL" This is better than springtime a,
'vided the season admits, but usual Cd
very dry weather prevails in the pr
TN until late in November, when br
Z prepared for grass at that date ";
iapie to be affected by freezing. RI
the young roots have not a prop ST
loid to escape ''heaving out" How tn
:, IT would be well to have soil IN
ny IN the fall and the best kind of ad
n rs secured on city lots where ha
fss to water can be had.
rass seed sown in September is
m a beautiful lawn by Christmas.
such lawns also escape the rank
WIN OF the annual grasses.-Thom- ;s
L. Brown. State Nor.,