Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-05-03
with certainty in establishing a salts

themselves are we'll suited TO lawn
making. but which because OF their
habits of growth are not we'll adapted
10 use in lawn mixtures. Italian rye
grass is II notable example OF this type
of plant 1t is In itself capable Of
making Il fairly good lawn. but because
of It's more rampant growth and broal
leaf blade which possess Il shiny APP
pelrince, it does not blend We'll with
other grasses on tho lnWn-such as red
top. bluegrass. and white clover. II
grows more rapidly than do those
species, ard Always appears as an oh
irusiNr companion upon tho lawn. II
il. therefore. not advised as an import
ant or desirable feature in 4 In Wi mix
turr.
For certain .;ints west al IN. Mis-
sissippi river. WiieI, the gfassns al
ready mentioned do mo-, thrive, it has
been suggested that u native grass.
known rs buffalo grass. which has the
characteristics of good lawn grass-that
liz. creeping stems. and short. upright
leaf shoots be employed for lawn pur-
poses. This grass has the ability to
withstand drought and TO esta blish and
maintain itself under adverse Innate
conditions. Since Buffalo grass is in
digennus to the region and pos
sesses 80 many qualities which
ar" OF importance in lawn
grass is worthy Of special consihera-
''''' 80 'iI'| - II ltS tIl' OIl' ItI =
back that the seed is not now available
IN commercial quantities.
Another type of grass which is not
used in America to the extent that il
might be and /" the extent it's habits
would NJ it is the class OF plants known
as fcscues. Some of these species ar.
capabl" OF enduring maritime condi-
tions. while others ar. able to thirty.
under considerable shade. The most
common species Of this type of plant
known In America Is the sheep fescue.
OF which there arc a number Of va
ri"ties. This grass has the objection
for lawn purposes that 1t is bunchy in
its nature and does not. therefore,, pro-
duo" a smooth and uniform turf like.
blue grass. red top or bent grass. How
eyer. for shady places rod fcscue and
some other varieties Of sheep fesciie ire
worthy OF trial. IL tho iescues may
be added to the collection for ,lsc upon
lawns near the seaShore.
In the gulf coast country. par,iru-
larly throughout Louisiana. the grass
known as carpet grass has for "A num-
Der or years been extending its do
main. and OF late has been attracting
considerable attention for use upon
lawns. IT his a habit Of growth very
similar to hat OF Bermuda grass. and
it Is possible that when it shall have
been given a thorough test it's region
or adaptabtlity will he c~oextensivc with
That OF Bermuda grass. Under some
conditions 1t thrives and maintains it,
setf to ever a greater extent than does
the Bermuda grass. 1t also has am
other advantage in that in certain To-
r~aittics 1t produces seed which with a
little care may be gathered and may
become a commercial commodity.
Whstfer or not carpet grass will carry
It's seeding habits to its northern linn
its remains to be determined. II is
fC1dlIC f,rn n Cut,.l rr,,,, t,,.P ,it.- n,
muda grass. and can easily be estab-
liskcd upon a lawn.
In procuring seed for establishing a
lawn too great care cannot be cxcr-
cised. Pure seed. OF high gerrmina-
tion. is OF great Importance in secur-
ing a good stand of grass. Pure seed
~ the keynote tn "A clean lawn. pro-
Vided the work of preparing the land
mas ncci emci"ntly done. Thorough
preparation involves not merely the
mechanical treatment OF the soil to
reduce IT. to n roper seed bed. but the
use OF weed-frec manure and the adop-
ton or II course OF treatment previous
to preparing for the lawn which shall
servo to eradicate weeds. Such prem
aration. coupled with pure seed. should
give u satisfactory stand of grass which
snail need only the usual care necessary
10 maintain Il lawn after it is one. cs-
tabltShed. Too much cannot be said in
favor OF securing pure seed. and. III
possible. specially selected seed. This
is OF considerable importancc with
light seeds like bluegrass, redtop and
seeds OF the bent grasses. In the case
OF bluegrass select seed weighs about
,. pounds to the bushcl. while the or
binary grade Of bluegrass. although II
may ne called pure. averages about IL
pounds to ne bushel. Select or re-
cleaned bluegrass is, therefore. the most
economical To buy. although the orig
mai cost is considerably more than that
OF the coinmon commercial article.
Thr stand OF grass resulting from
tn" use OF r%ecleaned. selected seed ia
much more uniform THAI when seed
containing Il great number of hulls and
liEht seeds Ia employed. The same re-
marks hold with the bent 3 and
even with white clover, although tho
market at the present time does mot
oner as much opportunity for selection
with this last named seed as with the
bluegrass.
The quantity of seed to be used upon
q lawn Is OF decided Importance. II ia
better to- use an excessive amount of
seed n allow natural selection to
eliminate the weak specimens rather
han To seed sparsely with the hone
that the natural habits Of the plants
will be sufhcient to enable them TO
take possession OF the entire area.
thick stand OF plants of the desired
species gives little opportunity for the
development OF weeds. while A thin
stand OF he's same species offers a place
for the growth of weeds. which may
become determined competitors for the
possession OF the ground. thus subject
ing tho gardener TO The necessity of
eliminating the weeds or of re-estab-
fishing thu lawn. Heavy seeding Of
grass Ia. therefore. Il very important
matter In the establishment OF lawns.
Rluegrass, bent-grass and the fes-
cues. IL used in combinations. should
be sown at the rate OF two to three
bushels Of seed to the acre. Bluegrass,
if used alone. should not he used at A
less rate than . bushels to the acre.
while white clover. II added to tho col
lection Of the above named sorts,
should be- used at the rate of a peck
to the ere. Upon sandy lands and in
spring seeding white clover is a very
important factor. because it germi-
mates quickly and covers the ground,
'anordin1 protection and presenting I'M
attractive appearance earlier than is
possible by the use OF the other grasses.
White clover. too. Is able tn re-estab-
lish itself very quickly after periods OF
severe drought. n until the blue
grass. rcdtOp and bent-grass become
thNs.nrs~t1s nverNllrA@n 49, fA.