1935-36

RECREATION GROUNDS.
The ground should be carefully consolidated by rolling or , of
tramping to produce an even and firm seed-bed. th
Sowing should be done on a calm day and in two operations, the m
second at right angles to the first, preferably using a modern type Cl
of sowing machine. The seed, when sown, should be lightly raked
1
1
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in, and thereafter rolled, not too heavily. Once the seed has
become established, and the grass is about I in. in height, it should of
be lightly rolled with a wood roller to ensure the roots getting firmly tr
established, and when the grass is sufficiently long it should be 1 ar
scythed in the first instance, in preference to being mown. Pr
The greatest possible care should be taken that the seed used is d
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purchased from a reliable seed merchant. na
For Football, Hockey, and Cricket outfields a recreation ground sh
mixture should be used. In the case of Cricket Tables, Tennis an
Courts, Bowling Greens, and Golf Greens, special mixtures should
be used, and sown at the rate of
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ozs. to 2 ozs. per square yard, X
as against, approximately, 1 oz. per square yard for recreation Bi
grounds generally. ar
The last week in August and September is considered the best wr
season of the year to sow, as There is usually sufficient moist ire wl
and the soil is warm. Good results have even been achieved from
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at
October sowings. There is naturally a risk in late sowings, so
every endeavour should be made to sow as early as the season H
allows. As there is always a possibility of a failure from one
cause or another, it will be advisable not to sow the full amount th
of seed allowed, but to save 23 per cent. for reinforcing in the in
spring. he
Spring sowings do well in clean soil, but there is considerable
risk of damage by cold winds and drought, unless well watered.
A proportion of the seed should be kept for reinforcing in the
autumn.
If the land is " dirty " with weed, plough and fallow for a TI
season and scarify weeds as they appear.
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CRICKET TABLES AND PRACTICE WICKETS.
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The nature of the construction of first-class Cricket Tables or ref
Practice Wickets is dependent on the strata of the sub-soil.
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Under no circumstances should there be any sub=soil drains
running through these particular areas, as the considerable amount aft
of artificial watering and rolling necessitated in the preparation of ae(
wickets is liable to cause small subsidences in the line of the
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drain tracks. tht
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A main drain round the table should be sufficient. The founda- i
tion, where the expense will permit, should consist of 6 ins. of
broken chalk, thoroughly consolidated, and the interstices carefully rat
packed. This should be covered with 9 ins. of good top soil, not tee
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560
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