The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-20
NEWS OF THE DAY IN SOCIETY WORLD Suggestions from City Beauti-
 fuI Department NOTES HERE AND THERE Livingston-RandoIph Weddinu-owen- McWilIlams-colIins-IngIis-An-
 nouncements About We'll
 Known People.
NOTES HERE AND THERE
By MYRTLE MILES.

Telephones: Bell, f16o; Peoples, 2e9.)
 The City Beautiful department, whose motto is "The Public Good, Health and Happiness gives the following sugges- tions as to shrubs
 '"The most graceful of all shrubs, the spiraea Van Houttei, deserves a place on every lawn, large or small.
 "The countless uses of hardy shrubs can hardly be imagined. From the small door yard where ground is at premium to the large estates with unlimited space we find a need for ornamental shrubs not to be met by the use of other plants.
 'Tn landscape gardening they are invalu- able in finishing off groups and planting and giving effective towering displays at almost all periods
 Where large trees cause the shade, it Is necessary, before planting around them, to replace the old, poor soil with fresh, rich loam, digging deep holes. After tho plants have become established they should have frequent applications of bone meal.
 Plants will seldom grow in recesses caused by overhanging caves or balconies, as the ground in such places becomes parched and dry, never receiving mois- ture except through artificial means. Shade from adjacent buildings is not very serious. Almost any plants, if the soil conditions are improved will do well. 'On soil in moist, shady places, wood ashes should be literally distributed to kill the sour condition which usually pre- vails. The soil in this way is not only sweetened but enriched"
 Suggestions are also given for the mak- ing of velvet sod lawn as follows: '"The successful keeping as we'll as mak- l ing of beautiful lawn lies most largely | in the thorough preparation before seed | is sown.
 "In fitting the ground care should be 1 taken to have the work properly done throughout. If there is grading to be
 done the top soil to the depth of six to eight inches should first be removed to one side; finish with the top soil after the grade is complete.
 This should be thoroughly harrowedand raked to reduce to as fine condition as possible, as well as to level 1t, as nothing detracts so much from the appearance of lawn as an uneven surface Sow the seed as early in the spring as convenient, the earlier the better if the soil Is in good condition, or it may be sown very well in August and September. Sow about half the seed in both directions at right angles to each other which will give a more even sowing. After the seed has been sown 1t should be raked lightly, then relied with a hand roller, unless it is thoroughly watered, to settle the soil about the seed.
 "As a fertilizer we would recommend pure bone meal as being lasting in its effects and free from weed seed. Apply at the rate of 600 to 1000 pounds to acre. No one kind of grass will make lawn that will keep beautifully green all through the season, but mixture of several is essential, as some varieties are mosn lux udiant in the spring, others in the sum- mer, and again others in autumn, and & proper combination of these various sorts
 is required to create and maintain a per- feet carpet-like lawn"