Sowing Lawn Grass Seed

April is nominally the best month in the year for sowing Grass seed, but it sometimes happens that it is the worst. If cold winds prevail the ground is chilled, and the seed lies dormant.

In such circumstances it is wise to wait for better weather - even if it means sowing as late as May. Grass seed may go in whenever the ground has been warmed by spring sun, is moist, and crumbles to a fine tilth under the rake; the ground should be firm, perfectly level, and free from stones. The seed should be sprinkled evenly over the surface on a still day (in windy weather it would be blown into heaps) at the rate of about three-quarters of a pound per square rod. Afterwards the ground should be scratched over with a rake to partially cover the seed, trodden or rolled, and protected from birds with black thread strung a few inches above the surface, or fish netting, or scares. It is absolutely essential to keep off the birds somehow, otherwise they will have the greater part of the seed, and what is left will be unable to give a plant strong enough to outgrow the various weeds that are likely to thrust themselves forward. It is a good plan to regularly roll the young Grass from the time that it is an inch high. When it is three inches high, the tops should be cut or clipped off. The mowing machine ought not to be put on until the Grass begins to thicken at the base. This means that the roots are spreading and throwing up fresh Grass.

Begonia Gloire De Lorraine

If this beautiful winter-flowering Begonia was rested and cut back after flowering, it ought now to be throwing up young shoots. These may be taken off as cuttings when they are two or three inches long, and inserted in sandy soil. They quickly root if placed over bottom heat, and make good flowering plants by the autumn.

Sowing Cinerarias

Seed of Cinerarias may be sown in a hot-bed frame or heated greenhouse for giving plants to flower next winter.

Starting And Propagating Fuchsias

One finds, in visiting the large nurseries, that the increased popularity of Orchids, pot Roses, Carnations, and other plants has not materially affected the position of that old-time favourite, the Fuchsia. It is still grown a great deal. The plan with it is to dry it off in autumn, keep it dormant through the winter, start it again in spring by putting it in a warm house, pruning the shoots close back, and syringing it. If more plants are needed, some of the young shoots are taken off when about three inches long, and inserted in sandy soil. They root quickly if kept warm and close, and in the course of the summer make good flowering plants.

Some Special Herbaceous And Rock Plants

Herbaceous plants may still be put in; indeed, early April is one of the best periods of the year for the work, as the plants are just beginning to grow. In Chapter III (March. The Dawn Of Spring). I gave a list of "stock" herbaceous plants - kinds which can be bought from all growers at a moderate cost. Let me now name a few of special interest, for the benefit of those who are familiar with the "old stagers," and want to add something fresh to their collections. The plants may be expected to cost rather more than the old species: