The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
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with trees and blossoms.
To one Of these patient gardeners
who thinks that a fresh, green lawn
would be q desirable adjunct to his
well planned house a few forcible hints
are given anent the sowing of the
proper seed. The grass which makes
the best lawn" says Mr.. McLaren, lis
Kentucky bluegrass. The mixing of
clover or any other grass seed with
Kentucky bluegrass is not recommend
ed. When purchasing the seed see
that 1t Is perfectly clean and fresh the
quantity required being about half a
pound Of seed to $50 square feet OF
lawn. 1t must be sown as evenly as
possible. time for sowing being Sc
lected when there Is absolutely no
wind; as the seed Is very light too
much stress can not be laid upon this
point. Immediately after sowing the
ground must be raked very lightly with
an iron rake. None of the seed must
be moved or dragged into punches, the
object OF this raxing being to cover
the seed not more than quarter of an
inch and to have 1t as evenly distrib-
uted as can be managed. If this Ken
lucky bluegrass can be successfully
sown 1t makes the best lawn, the
closest turf and the most velvety sur
face and is well worth the preliminary
trouble. The other strong grass seeds,
as the English rye and the orchard
are apt to run into punches or tufts"
Much valuable advice is detailed in
the rest Of the chapter. especially re-
garding the dandelion, which the
writer says on no account should be
permitted to seed, because only If one
flower stalk or head Is allowed to ripen
its seeds II will, In a short period,
completely ruin . lawn. There are
myriads OF seeds in one OF these flower
tops. and when they are allowed to
spread they spring up In q few days
and do immense damage.
As regards the most beautiful fiow-
ering trees and shrubs. the writer
speaks of q large number suitable for
propagation in California, particularly
acacia, OF which plant there are nearly
400 species, over 100 species having
been introduced into California and
proved to be perfectly hardy, growing
freely In any soil and standing ex-
posure to our harshest winds, while
one species at least rivals the hardest
trees In standing salt winds growing
almost within touch OF salt spray on
the poorest land. One of the species.
acacia baileyana, a very early bloomer,
opens its great bundles of yellow
flowers at the beginning of January.
Its silvery ferplike foliage, blending
with its beautiful flowers, makes IL q
charming object In garden or shrub
berry. 1t grows to the height of 80
feet Tho acacia species Is profuse
bloomer, and can, be counted upon to
flourish with ordinary care.
The different varieties of maple are
highly ornamental. and the sugar
maple is one of the very best of our
deciduous trees. The Japanese maple
and its varieties make an effective
shrubbery group, their deeply cut va
rtously tinted leaves betug exruisitcly
beautiful, while our native species be-
comes handsome tree OF large proper
tions, with stem often three feet or
more In diameter, with branches to the
height of 20 feet. its spread OF limbs
shading an area from 75 feet to 100
feet across. The horse chestnut and
the shrub known as Turks Cap as well
10 the alder. almond arbutus. axalea,