The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18


weeds than II sown in the spring, when the
weeds will have an equal chance with the
grass, and when, II drought follows, as
so frequently happens in June, the grass
will fail and the weeds will then have
possession.
II the soil u a heavy loan, a close
good sward may be had by 30 wing to the
acre three bushels OF June grass, which is
known az Kentucky blue grass and two
bushels Of fancy red top seed. Four quarts
Of timothy may be sown, as also one half
bushel OF English rye grass. II white
clover is liked in the lawn land 1t helps to
make a strong, close sward), four quarts
OF that seed may also be sown.
There is great Importance attached TO
the purchase OF the best quality OF Seed
and also to using 1t literally. Many lawns
are disappointing from the fact that too
limited quantity Of seed Ia sown and
much of that not Of the best quality.
A lawn made after this manner with a
good depth Of soil will stand and improve
for many years.
In regions where the soil is a rather
| light, sandy loan, the problem Of lawn
making is more difficult one. The clover
method Of preparation would be OF special
value to such soils, for they are deficient
| in humus or vegetable matter. They
become dry and hot, the grasses are burned
out quickly, and the deep-rooted, perennial
weeds come In.
! For such soils the following mixture OF
seeds will be found to be desirable: One
bushel Of red top fancy. one bushel June
! grass, one and one half bushels red fescue,
| half h,,shol holf
bushel ed dogs tail. one half bushel
English rye grass. four quarts OF white
clover and four quarts Of timothy.
II there is an abundance of rain the grass
should be out, but not too closely for the
first three months, as it Ia not we'll to expose
the roots Of the young grass too severely.
It should be allowed to grow two and half
inches high before being cot. and then
1t should not be cut too frequently.
In the late autumn the grass should be
allowed to grow to form a good top for
winter prot ection to the roots. In the
spring. after the freezing weather Is passed
and the soil is sufficiently dry heavy
roller should 90 over the lawn.
The long period Of freezing, and particu-
larly Of freezing and thawing, in the spring
lifts the plants, and their roots become
more or less broken. The roller will press
the plants down again 30 that they become
more solid in the earth, when new roots
will be formed and the plants will not
suffer from the action of the frost.
Wheat is frequently thrown out by this
freezing so that the roots are exposed.
By rolling they are pressed back again and
| good crop is secured, when, without rolling,
half Of the plants would die.
| A little extra seed sown before rolling
each spring will help to renew and keep
the sward supplied with new grass plants.
| When lawn has become patchy and broken
In spots as an aid in its Improvement after
the seed is sown, a very light harrow run
over the sward is beneficial.
This implement should be made Of the
finest teeth, composed Of wire nails, No. 40
in size. These do not tear the sward, but
they loosen the soil slightly, stimulate the
old roots and help the new seed to germi-
nate.
IT, however, lawn has begun to fail,
is full Of weeds and is unsatisfactory, it
does not pay to temporize by using these
half way measures. 1t Is wiser to replow
and remake it from the foundation
Much Of the watering or sprinkling OF
lawns, as 1t Is usually done, is not of much
benefit to them. Too limited a quantity
OF water Is applied, with the result that
instead of the roots going down deep for
moisture as they should. they are stimu-
lated at the surface and in times OF Sc
we're drought they fail.
When 1t Ia known that 1t requires 1903 tons Of
water to wet an acre Of soil one inch deep,
the ineffectiveness Of sprinkling a large
area with one and q quarter inch hose by
hand labor may be realized.
In addition to an autumn application OF
wood ashes every two years, and an annual
spring application Of 800 pounds of COM
plete fertilizer to the acre. which has the
three essential plant foods. nitrogen, potash
and phosphorio acid, there would be ad-
vantage in using half Of this quantity Of
fertilizer about the middle Of August. The
grass becomes somewhat exhausted by
the continuous growth through the summer
and small quantity Of nourishment given
at that time stimulates the roots and sends
them into the winter in stronger condition,
and the better spring growth will we'll
repay this outlay.
Where there are number Of large trees
in lawn, extra fertilizers should be given
these, that both trees and lawn may be
properly nourished.
With these methods carried out in the
construction and the requisite after care
given to 1t, lawn may under even more or
less unfavorable circumstances, be long
maintained in satisfactory condition.
GEORGE T. POWELL.