ATTENTION TO LAWNS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

ATTENTION TO LAWNS.

WORK FOR THE AUTUMN. The autumn is the best, time to top - dress and renovate the surface of lawns that were laid down last autunni and where the grass has become thin in places. However well tho work may have been performed at first, subsidences and inequalities aro sure to take place where deep fillings have been made. To rectify these defects the whole surface must be gono over. A top-dressing of surfaco soil that is free from woods will, with the addition of a liberal dressing of sulphate of ammonia, form a good compost and when properly applied an even and level surface may be produced ready for the sowing of some fresh seed. By this means the lawn may bo placed in a state of good repair. OLDER LAWNS. Where the sward of lawns has become thin, patchy and weedy, with moss in places, this may bo renovated by the application first of a liberal dressing of sulphate of ammonia to kill the moss and weeds. A little sulphate of iron may be added. Next apply a good top-dressing of new soil as freo from tho seeds of weeds as possible t<> the depth of about Jin. Spread over the whole surface. A dressing of lime ftiay ba. added and the whole surface raked efrvnly over. The fresh seed must be raked well in to cover it well and save it from small birds. Finally roll. By this treatment old lawns may be thoroughly renovated and mado as good as new Old, worn-out lawns that have become unsightly with bad weeds and grasses should receive a good dressing of sulphate of ammonia and superphosphate mixed and deeply dug in. This work should be done early in the autumn and tho ground left with a rough surfaco to sweeten and render it in fit condition for lightly forking over to eradicate as many of the noxious weeds and bad grasses as possible, preparatory to manuring, levelling and resowing in the spring. To properly cleanse the soil of weeds tho best plan is <o plant a crop of potatoes in the spring and after digging out 1 lie potatoes to occasionally hoe or fork over the surface to keep down weeds. Resow in grass the following autumn.

SWEET PEAS. CULTIVATION HINTS, There seems to be no limit to the popularity of sweet peas, the most charming of hardy annuals, invaluable alike for garden decoration and for cutting. Tho advent of tho winter-flowering Spencer varieties greatly prolongs the season of floworing. They may bo grown successfully in the small as well as in the large garden, a wooden wall facing the sun is ideal for the purpose. The latest novelties, all of the Spencer type, are marvels of perfection. Tho standards are prettily frilled and curled and mostly four-flowered stems. VARIETY OF COLOURS. Tho colours range from tho purest white, pale primjose and every shade of pink to brillian' scarlet, orange, purple, rosy mauve, sain on, cerise and numerous other shades. The flowers have great substance. A multiple flowered sweet pea, with five and six-flowered stems, is the forerunner of a new variety. Enthusiasts devoto special attention to tho preparation of the soil by digging deep trenches and filling them with specially prepared compost of rubble, special manure mixed with leaf rubbish. They arrange tho plants six inches apart and train them up on two stems. Pinch off side branches. Care must bo taken not to over-feed, as tho flowers are liable to fall off by reason of over-stimulating. PRIMULA MALACOIDES. Primula malacoidcs is a valuable addition to winter and spring-flowering border or edging plants, and most suitable for wet winter conditions. Tho dainty f'owers aro produced well above the dwarf loliage upon light, graceful stems in whorles in profusion. Under careful selection tho original lilac shade has given place to pretty rose and pink shades, also pure white, with flowers considerably larger than those of the original malacoidcs. The dwarf varieties Eclipse, Rosamond and Achievement arc great improvements. Plants bedded out now flower through the winter and spring. These primulas aro valuable plants tor growing in pots and mixing with other pot plants. WHEELBARROWS. Tho garden wheelbarrow should be light, strong, and not too largo. The frame ought, always to bo made of some hardwood, and Iho "box" pine, on account of its lightnoss, but it should be [iiit together very strongly with tho sides and front neither too upright, nor with too wide an inclination outwards. If there is lo lie only one barrow on (ho place it should bo of moderate si/.e, but lie fitted with loose or movable boards lo fix on the sides and render ilie " box larger arid deeper for use when moving grass, leaves, hedge cuttings or similarly light material. These movable boards should be fitted with long steel or iron pins to run into corresponding slots on the fixed boards. An iron wheel is best, but. if of wood it should lie stout and bound with iron on its wearing surface. The spindles ought always to be run in iron eyes or bearings at each end.