Evening star., 1926-04-17
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

, course, largely composed Of phos-
phate, and the phosphoric ACID Wnicn
1t develops only supplements ana
does not take the place of the nitrates
and nitrites used by the grass Ill
making root and blade tissue. Prac-
tically the only source from when
J grass can secure tissue building
material Is from the decomposed
vegetable tissue which Is known as
humus.
X + + +
"When such humus was available
in considerable quantities. a progress
sive improvement In lawns was prac'
ticable, and this was emphasized py
the appearance of the Washington
parks OF 20 years ago, when
system of heavy top dressing with
completely rotted manure was car
ried on.
Under the present system of top
dire ssing the parks with material
which is but little better than straw
a large proportion OF the fertlllZlnS
value is raked off In the Spring, leaV-
Ing but little addition to the soil. while
the mechanical effect Of the clumps
and clods OF manure in sitting the
grass on which it rests has resulted In
a tufted appearance to the parks
which is most lamentable. Owing TO
the cost Of this double operation OF
putting on and raking OF, only a
small proportion Of the park area can
be treated, with the result that there
are increasing numbers OF sterile
spots throughout the park system.
THE practical impossibility of get
ting good lawn material has discour-
aged the individual householder from
attempting to do much with his lawn,
1 Aha In n MI
grass plots Of Washington residences
are probably in worse condition than
| those of any other city in the country.
Unless some radical step Is
taken for the Improvement OF the
grass in the parks Of Washington.
the condition in q few years Will be
such as to excite general criticism.
while think every visitor to the city
will be struck with the untidy and un-
slightly condition of most OF the resi-
dence grass plots"
- + +
The subject Of grass is one dear to
the heart Of every householder.
Probably we imbibed a love for the
grass when We were shorter OF
stature and thus cast our childish
eyes upon 1t from a closer viewpoint.
AT any rate, every one admires a
good lawn, even II many never pay
much attention to such things. but
somehow expect grass TO grow OF
itself.
Indeed, it ought, but often enough
It does not! There Is the rub and IN
that rub the problem faced by every
one with a plot Of land he may call
his own.
It Is noticeable in Washington this
Spring that lawns which last year
were not good are waxing green AL
ready this season, while many which
were superior to the latter last year
this Spring are in very poor condi'
ton.
Perhaps our correspondent or some
other can explain this seeming anom-
oily. We call attention particularly
to the lawns along q street and Mas
sachusetts avenue west.
Last Summer these plots. almost
without exception, and particularly IN
front OF some OF the larger homes.
were in bad condition.
This Spring. however, the grass ls
thick and green already, while In
communities farther to the west.
closer to the river, grass In many
cases Is in very poor shape.
Trees and grass are the frame ana
setting for the beauty We call WASH
| ington. They form an important
subject and one which cannot be dis
| cussed too much.