1935-36

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RECREATION GROUNDS.
Land which is not of a very heavy or clayey nature should be
successfully dealt with if the intermediate drains are laid at 15 ft.
centres
,
and in some cases as far apart as 20 ft
.
centres, but it
may be safely assumed that the draining of a ground at greater
intervals than these will not produce satisfactory results
,
owing to
the inadequate drawing power.
Sometimes it is practicable to cut open ditches round the ground
to eliminate water entering same from the surrounding levels.
These ditches should be of adequate depth and width, and should
be kept continually clear. No drainage work should be commenced
until the formation has been blocked out and the filling thoroughly
consolidated in layers.
Drainage is really a specialist's work, and to be efficient
must be carried out in a very careful and thorough manner,
otherwise it should not be considered
,
as it is merely waste of
money.
TURFING.
Unless it is known that the area to be turfed has been richly
cultivated in recent times, it is advisable to incorporate with the
soil well-rotted farmyard manure at the rate of 25 to 30 cubic yards
to the acre.
This should be worked in to a depth of six inches, thereby
providing the necessary organic matter and humus on which the
turf, when laid, will live in a healthy and vigorous condition.
Turf may be laid from September to March, or even later if
weather conditions permit. Naturally, the earlier the work is done
the better. The ground should be made firm and, if a dressing
of manure is not available, a dressing of complete fertiliser may
be given at a suitable time to encourage root growth and the
re-establishment of the turf within the shortest time.
Care should be taken to see that the turf is cut to a uniform
thickness, and much after-labour will be saved if each piece is
examined and the prominent weeds systematically removed. When
laying the turf, care should be taken that each piece is carefully
bedded and butted hard against its neighbour.
At this stage a heavy roller should never be used, as it only
produces a hide-bound condition. The turf should only be lightly
rolled or beaten until it begins to grow. The best results will
thus be achieved, and this point cannot be too strongly emphasised.
A dressing of fertiliser in March or April is valuable, especially
if the turf is not making satisfactory progress.
SOWING.
Special attention must be paid to the preparation of the area to
be sown. It should be thoroughly cleaned of all visible weeds,
and any large stones that are turned up in the preparatory stage
should be removed. The incorporation of manure or fertiliser,
as recommended in the case of turfing
,
would be advantageous.
550
r,