"gentle curves and undulations," which is essential to the best
effects.

If the novice has read much of the conflicting advice in books and
catalogues, he is probably in a state of bewilderment as to the
kind of seed to sow. And when that point is settled it is really a
difficult task to secure pure and living seeds of just such species as
one orders. Rarely does either seller or buyer know the grasses called
for, especially the finer and rarer sorts; and more rarely still does
either know their seeds. The only safe way is to have the seeds tested
by an expert. Mr. J. B. Olcott, in a racy article in the "Report of
the Connecticut Board of Agriculture for 1886," says, "Fifteen years
ago nice people were often sowing timothy, red top and clover for
door-yards, and failing wretchedly with lawn-making, while seedsmen
and gardeners even disputed the identity of our June grass and
Kentucky blue-grass."

We have passed beyond that stage of ignorance, however; and to the
question what shall we sow, Mr. Olcott replies: "Rhode Island bent and
Kentucky blue-grass are their foolish trade names, for they belong no
more to Kentucky or Rhode Island than to other Northern States. Two
sorts of fine _Agrostis_ are honestly sold under the trade name of
Rhode Island bent, and, as trade goes, we may consider ourselves
lucky if we get even the coarser one. The finest--a little the
finest--_Agrostis canina_--is a rather rare, valuable, and elegant
grass, which should be much better known by grass farmers, as well
as gardeners, than it is. These are both good lawn as well as pasture
grasses." The grass usually sold as Rhode Island bent is _Agrostis
vulgaris_, the smaller red top of the East and of Europe. This makes
an excellent lawn. _Agrostis canina_ has a short, slender, projecting
awn from one of the glumes; _Agrostis vulgaris_ lacks this projecting
awn. In neither case have we in mind what Michigan and New York people
call red top. This is a tall, coarse native grass often quite abundant
on low lands, botanically _Agrostis alba_.

Sow small red top or Rhode Island bent, and June grass (Kentucky blue
grass, if you prefer that name), _Poa pratensis_. If in the chaff, sow
in any proportion you fancy, and in any quantity up to four bushels
per acre. If evenly sown, less will answer, but the thicker it is sown
the sooner the ground will be covered with fine green grass. We can
add nothing else that will improve this mixture, and either alo