Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-03-16
|NEWSy GOSSIP FROM The NATIONAL CAPITOL

he able to take care of excess during
the wet season by drainage, and dur.
ing the dry season be able to supply
stored-up moisture from its depths. This
adequate water supply Is the principal
factor in grass growth. and the one most
difficult to control in Il poor soil. 1t Is
more important than any added ~fertiliz-
the addition Of any amount or kind Of
chemical plant food.
IAN suggestions regarding lawn soils,
their texture. selection, and manipula-
ton, have been made with one end in
view-the creating and maintaining Of
an adequate water supply in as natural
a manner as possible. If this water
supply is maintained effectually by a
normal soil, the natural processes which
\ 20 hand in han with it, such as proper
bacterial activity. acration and oXida-
ton. soil sanitation and the supply Of
plant God generally. are also sufficient
for a healthy growth Of good grcensward.
"A soil well adapted to lawns should
consist of clay. silt. very fine sand, me-
dium sand. coarse sand and fine gray
el. 1t is this difference in the size of
soil particles. and in the proportions in
which they are present in soils that has
given rise to the different classes Of agri-
cultural soils, such as the clays, clay
loans. sands and sandy LOANS. This
difference determines the texture of the
soil. The texture is q particularly i'm
portant factor in a successful lawn, us
it has a very marked influence on the
kind of grass. or combination of grasses
and clovcrs best suited to the soil: on
its ability to hold sufficient moisture to
carry the grass through a prolonged
drought; on the ease Of establishing good
natural drainage; on the account Of
aeration and on other requirements.
"The clay soil usually makes very
strong lawn soils, giving a dense sod.
The clay loan soils. when well drained
and carefully handled, are well suited
for the establishment of an excellent
grecnsward. The slit Joan soils are
ideally adapted TO ia@-l making but they
must have good drainage and be liber-
ally supplied with organic matter. The
loan soils, when they have good drain
age and contain sufficient organic mat
| UT, HidlltdiI SoOu INV us. me course
sandy soils are unsuitable for lawn pur-
poses. although certain grasses will
grow upon them. \ fair lawn may be
established on soils of the fine sandy
type by paying especial attention to the
preparation of the soil. and by the in
PRODUCTION of manure, or green manure
together with bone phosphat and lime in
some cases. and copious watering during
the dry seasons. The sandy loans make
very good lawns when well drained and
supplied with organic matter.
"Since the lawn Is intended to be a
"rcrEiancnt feature of the decoration Of
tic place. its endurance or span Of life
is of the utmost importance. in general
| grass seeds are small and surface, seed
bal for the reception Of these seeds need
not be more than one inch in depth: but
since the grasses as they become estab-
liShcd. send out long lateral feeding roots
it is necessary tina the soil area avail
able fur tn re plants should be as great
as possible. ~ This object can only be OBJ
tanned by deep cultivation and thorough
preparation of at least eight or ten inches
Of the surface soil. The soil to this
ucpti' oIIouIN w looS lIcu. anu put III
to an ideal condition for the develop
ment of plant roots.
"Since the lawn is a permanent fea-
ture, it is hardly possible to make the
soil for the reception Of the lawn too
rich. Stable manure which has been
thoroughly composted and rottcd. and
which is as free as possible from det-
rimcntal weeds seeds is undoubtedly the
best material to use in producing the de-
sired fertility of the soil. Forty to sixty
loads of well dccompose1 stable man
Of land designed for the grccnsward.
mot all grasses arc adapted to lawn
making. Only such kinds rs are ca
pable Of making a close turf arc ideal
for lawns. Most grasses which have
creeping root stocks. short joints, and
produce long. narrow leaves in album
dance about the crown Of the plant adapt
themselves well to lawn making. Be-
sides this. a desirable lawn grass pos
scsscs Il pleasing color. which doe not
change decidedly from season to season.
is drought resistant, responds quickly to
u change of conditions from winter to
PIlhS dIu DSdIo lSpCdSCu CIlpplIlbS
with Il lawn lower The requirements
of these grasses are exceedingly exact
ing, and it is not surprising to find the
fxst Of such grasses a comparatively
short and meager one.
I'm procuring seed for a lawn, too
great care can not be exercised. Pure
seed, of high termination, is Of great
Importance in securing a good stand Of
grass. Pure seeds is the keynote to a
clean lawn. provided the work Of pre-
pairing the Ian has been efficiently done.
Thorough preparation involves not only
the mechanical treatment Of the soil to
reduce it to a prope seed bed, but the
use OF Weed-free manure and the adOp-
ton Of a course of treatment previous
to preparing for the lawn which shall
serve to eradicate weeds. Such prepar-
alton. coupled with pure seed, should
give a satisfactory stand of grass which
need only the usual care necessary
to maintain u lawn after it is once es-
tablished. To much cannot be said in
favor of securing pure seeds. and. if
possible, specially selected seed. This is
of course. of consideration Importance