J P Ayers Writes on Rolling and Mowing

Wooden Rollers. - I do not know anything more annoying to a gardener, who is desirous of seeing his short Grass in good order, than that of having a lawn studded with worm-casts, and, at the same time, weather so wet as to render it impossible to sweep them off without making the remedy worse than the nuisance. To remedy this, and, at the same time, to economise labour by doing two jobs at the same time (viz., cleaning the Grass and rolling the lawn), we have been in the habit of using for some time past wooden rollers, which, if applied at the time the worm-casts are in a plastic state (that is, neither too wet, nor yet too dry), will pick them up as clean as could be desired, and, at the same time, leave the Grass smooth and even. These rollers are made of various sizes, from 18 inches to 4 feet in width, and generally about 9 inches in diameter. I had some made in an octagonal form, imagining that the increased weight of the fall would cause the worm-casts to adhere more closely; but the shaking caused the dirt to fall off if it was a little dry, and if the worm-casts were numerous; the roller soon lost its octagonal form, so I was obliged to return to the common form. A strong boy, with a 4-feet roller, will clear as much ground of worm-casts as four men with brooms; and even if the ground requires sweeping, to clear it of leaves or branches, I find the work facilitated by letting the roller precede the sweepers. On dewy mornings, in the summer time, the rollers are quite as useful as in winter and spring; indeed, comparatively speaking, more so, as they enable us to get the grounds cleared up before the family is about, a thing so much to be desired in all well-regulated establishments. I may, however, remark   that, in order to enable the rollers to perform their work properly, it is necessary that the Grass should be kept pretty short, as short as it can be kept; by mowing every week, or, where this is impracticable, it should be cut well into the ground in the autumn. Here we occasionally mow the same piece of ground six different ways, on successive mornings, and I find that taking the season throughout, we save time by so doing; on the principle, I suppose, that a job "well done, is twice done." Let me, therefore, recommend these rollers to all who have not tried them as I am sure they will give satisfaction. - W. P. Ayres.