"During the progress of the work all stones and roots should be thrown out. The digging being finished, the next operation is equivalent to harrowing or deeply raking. Rolling and raking alternately gives the necessary fineness and firmness to the surface, without which we cannot successfully produce and maintain a high-class turf.

"It is also advisable, when time permits, to allow an interval to elapse between the final preparation of the surface and the sowing of the seed, so that it may be possible for the former to sink to its natural level, and any imperfections that may be noticed may be remedied before sowing. This delay is also to be recommended from another standpoint, for it allows of any weeds that may have been overlooked to assert themselves, the next step being to eradicate them finally.

"The enriching of the soil? Well, in any case the character of the soil, be it light or heavy, rich or poor, will be our guide, both as to the necessity and the kind of manure to be used. My experience has taught me that it is a very rare occurrence that the soil proves to be in such a thoroughly satisfactory state that it does not require some quantity of manure.

"It is certainly a wise proceeding, when the surface is disturbed or dug up, to incorporate manure, either by digging in well-made, well-rotted stable dung, or by raking in upon the surface a compound artificial fertiliser.

"When the soil is light it is possible to secure a better effect from dung made with moss litter, than should the soil be heavy in character. On the stiffer soil dung made with straw, but moderately well rotted, will produce the best result, the reason of this being that it not only adds the necessary food to the soil, but improves its texture by lightening it.

"Then, again, basic slag, of which we hear a very great deal at the present time, is much more effectual upon peaty and clay soils, poor in lime, than on the lighter varieties.

"In fact, the great thing we have to realise and understand in the management of soils is this: -

"With heavy soils, as with light ones, it is necessary to improve the conditions by lightening on the one hand and consolidating on the other, opening up the heavy clays to the free circulation of air and moisture, consolidating the light soils, and making them more retentive of moisture by the addition of certain special substances, more particularly in the shape of good rich loam.

"Putting greens? Yes, the same means are applicable, and the essential ingredients of such a manure are nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. The mixture should contain a considerable quantity of nitrogen in such a form that it is given off very gradually, phosphates in such a proportion that the clover plants in the turf are rather diminished than encouraged, and a certain amount of potash and immediately available ammonia. The whole of these qualities are embodied in a special manure for golf greens, imparting a healthy growth and a rich colour to the sward.

"Indiscriminate manuring by those possessing no practical and expert knowledge of the subject is productive of very considerable waste and much harm. It is conspicuously true of the management of golf courses that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.' On many greens I have known committees deplore the presence of a rich crop of leguminous herbage, whilst at the same time they were doing their utmost to encourage it by periodically top-dressing with phosphates in the form of super-bonedust or basic slag, whereas by the use of a well-balanced formula they could as readily discourage clover and increase the tillering or spreading-out of the grass.

"Then, again, unless expert knowledge is possessed, it is a very easy matter to make a serious mistake in mixing together various fertilising substances. Thus dung, guano, sulphate of ammonia, and superphosphate should not be mixed with basic slag or lime, because in the first three instances we dissipate into the air the most valuable ingredient, the ammonia, and in the case of the superphosphate it is changed into a less soluble and a less active form.'

It was evident from this expression of opinion that

Mr. Finlayson attached considerable importance to the subject of manuring, and I suggested that such was a fact.

"Yes," was his reply. "I do, most emphatically, and I will tell you why. In my opinion manuring is in a sense even more important than seeding. It is so many-sided, and has to be studied both from a chemical and a biological standpoint, or perhaps I had better put it to you in this way. Speaking of my firm (Carter's), we do a world-wide trade in seeds and manures for golf links, and our customers have implicit faith and confidence in us as experts in this business. With clubs the case is somewhat different, for while many depend upon the expert as regards seeding, they dabble on their own account into the ramifications of chemical manuring.

"On one occasion the captain of an important club remarked to me, ' We are in this position : some of us who manage this club think we know; others of us have learnt sufficiently to know that we don't know. That is as far as we have got!' With certain reservations, these words may be echoed from Land's End to John o' Groats.

"In an endeavour to improve and produce a close, matted turf, it would be as well to remember that the capabilities of the soil, whether it be a heavy clay or a drifting sand, are determined or measured by its mechanical composition and physical properties, together with the plant food that is present in the least proportion.

"What do I mean by the words 'physical' and 'mechanical'? This: the predominant or mechanical constituents of all soils are clay, sand, lime, vegetable matter or humus, and the physical properties, such as texture, porosity, power of absorption, solely and wholly depend upon the proportions in which they are mixed together.