The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-04
THINGS OF BEAUTY
Place of the Lawn In the Adorn-
ment of a City.
THE COMMERCIAL CLUBS PLAN
1t Is Approved by j. e. NOrthrup,
, Former Member Of the
Park Board.
THE COMMERCIAL CLUBS PLAN

The purpose of the Commercial Club to
encourage citizens generally to look after
the beautifying of the city by maintain
ing well-kept lawns will soon be made
manifest by some action on the part of
the improvement committee. The club
had the matter up for consideration last
year, but no progress was made. 1t is
now hoped to stimulate interest in the
Improvement Of private grounds to an
extent that will add greatly to the beauty
OF the city. --
AS a well-kept lawn is the cheapest and
most effective establishment of residence
property, the views of Former Park Com
missioner J: E. Northrup on the subject
will be found Interesting Says Mr. North
rup:
The Commercial Club could scarcely do Bet
ter than to interest itself in plans for the
identifying of our city. Every one appreci-
ates the beauty and utility Of well-kept
lawn, and how the most humble, unpretenti-
GUS house, set in the midst of nice lawn,
becomes attractive. Fresh paint and vines
may conceal the condition of a very poor
house, but if the Lawn is unkempt and life
less the defects of the house stand out in
spite of its paint and green leaves. ----
Foundation of Good Lawn.
The foundation Of attractive grounds is a
| good lawn, tasteflly planted with trees and
| shrubbery. The first step in the making Of
! a good lawn Is to get the shape and slope
desired. The next thing Is to place over it a
| layer of black earth. 1t is better to have
six to sight inches OF black earth than less
depth, and although black earth Of the proper
i degree of richness is sometimes difficult to
procure, yet it pays to go to- the extra ex-
pense to get it, for good earth is the basis Of
a lawn that Is to be permanent.
The next step is either to seed it down with
grasses or to sod it. Authorities very gen
orally concede that seeding is not only cheap
er but far more satisfactory. Good sod is
| usually difficult to procure. but by using the
right kind Of seeds establish lawn
very quickly; in fact under ordinary condi-
lions one that it's owner can run mower
over within six or eight weeks. And If the
proper grasses have been used, the result will
be fine, permanent sod Of uniform grow tn
and color. 5s-s.g -l'"
In seeding a lawn. 1t is well to use one
half of the seed by sowing in one direction,
| and then sow the remaining half at right
angles with the first seed sown. By so doing
| a more uniform disposition Of the seed will be
secured. After the seed has been sown it may
be raked in lightly, and II possible roller
should be run over it to press the seed into
the ground. If roller cannot be obtained,
| a spade or planks may be utilized for the
| purpose. b..
On many of the streets of Minneapolis be-
| tween the sidewalk line and the road there
are small boulevards or planting spaces.
| They add greatly to the beauty Of the streets
particularly where there are curb and gutter
Attention should be paid to these little lawn
spaces as they are really the front door tc
| the front yards, and II they not well
| kept they detract from the appearance of the
| adjacent grounds, matter how we'll KEPT
! they may be. .
Value of Local Associations.
Local associations are invaluable promoters
| in the carrying out OF such improvements
AS an example, might cite the Portland Ave
nue. Improvement association and the Lowry
Hill association. The work of these organiza.
tons has added greatly not only to the at
Effectiveness of the localities in which the,
have labored, but to the value Of the prop
erty, so that it may be said that every strok,
of work that is done along the line of i'm
proving and Identifying residence grounds
meets with its financial reward, to say moth
ing of the pleasure it gives to citizens gen
orally.
Should the Commercial Club interest itsel
in this movement would like to sound
warning note against the practice of allow
ing vacant lots adjacent to improved propert!
to grow up in weeds. The seeds Of the weeds
ares scattered by every wind that blows. N,
scheme of Improvement along the lines
have suggested will avail If these weeds ar,
l Ion