1931

603
I
Eradication of clover is always a difficult matter, owing to . the
nature of its roots.
The following method should produce beneficial results, if not
permanent and ' lasting :—
One pound of sulphate of iron mixed with ten gallons of water,
soaked for one day in a tank. Stir well before using.
This must be used very carefully with an ordinary watering can,
with rose attachment.
Both clover and grass will be discoloured and turn black, but the
grass will recover after a short period. The operation may have
to be repeated after a day or two.
The best results are achieved if the work is carried out during
dry weather.
If a man skilled in the use of a scythe is available, systematic
raking and close scything will be found the most effective and
lasting method.
WET AREAS ON RECREATION GROUNDS.
One sometimes finds, where a system of sub-soil drains is not
necessary, that there are patches that become waterlogged.
This, of course, is most likely to occur during the winter
months, when there is an excessive rainfall.
The reason is usually due to a fault in the strata at this par-
ticular section, necessitating some form of drainage.
Isolated patches can be successfully treated if clinker or rough
ash drains are cut at 10 ft. centres to easy gradients. The tracks
should be about 1S ins. deep and 9 ins. wide, filled up with coarse
clinker, or ash thoroughly consolidated, to within 9 ins. of the
top, and covered with top soil, the mechanical porosity of which
has been improved by incorporating fine ashes.
These drain tracks ishould discharge into a sump, the top of
which should be about 1 ft. underneath the surface level. The
size of these sumps must naturally vary according to the area to
be dealt with-3 or 4 ft. square is usually ample—the sump filled
up with coarse clinker or any other isuitable material, thoroughly
beaten down to prevent sinking, and a foot of suitable top soil
being added before turf is relaid.
SHEEP GRAZING ON RECREATION GROUNDS.
Recreation Grounds are sometimes grazed with sheep for the
sake of economy. Sheep undoubtedly effect a saving in keeping
the growth of the grass down. They add, to the fertility of
the soil only if cake-fed. They invariably do considerable damage,
and you will probably find that the balance is on the wrong side,
especially on Golf Courses, where they do so much damage to the
greens and bunkers.
MAINTENANCE OF CRICKET TABLES AND
PRACTICE WICKETS.
Particular care must be taken that in the actual marking out of
the Cricket Wicket the bowling crease must be in the same align-
ment each year, so that the wear and tear of footholds is all in the
one line; if this is not done, bumpy wickets must necessarily
result,
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