Turf
A term applied to grass sods which are laid over the surface of ground to form lawns, edgings, verges, &c. Laying or cutting out flower-beds in Turf is a familiar operation. Turf is also cut from fields, and stacked in heaps for decomposing and forming loam, which is in daily request for potting and various other purposes. When used for forming new lawns, &c., that are to be kept mowed, it is most important that the Turf should be as free as possible from weeds, such as Daisies, Plantains, and the like. Pasture land which has long been laid down, and the grass closely eaten off by sheep or deer, is generally the best, as, provided the soil is fairly good, the more grazing or cutting is practised, the more dense does the Turf become at the root, and this is, of course, most favourable to the quick formation of a new lawn. The ground should be first prepared, made thoroughly firm by treading, and raked fine, before the Turf is laid. Autumn, and any favourable weather during winter and early spring, are best suited for the work. A handy size for cutting Turfs, when they are sufficiently tough for rolling, is 3ft. long by 1ft. wide; they are best cut with a turfing-iron, or, what is worked in a similar way, a turf-plough. small squares (about are readily fitted together, and are often preferable to 3ft. lengths. All the interstices should be filled in with fine soil, swept with a birch broom, and then the whole surface may be rammed or beaten with a turf-beater. It is important to get newly-laid Turf consolidated, and the pieces all fitted together, while the ground is moist. If from any cause Turf should have to be laid late in spring, or during summer, it often becomes dried up, and the pieces separate from each other; the work should not, therefore, be left until those seasons, if it can be avoided. It is of little use watering from the top in summer, but new Turf may be more readily re-established at that season by watering the ground first, and then laying the sods on the top.
TURF-BEATER, or TURF-BEETLE. This is used for beating the surface of newly-laid turf, to consolidate and render it level. A Turf-beater may easily be made from a flat, oblong piece of wood 3in. thick. A strong handle should be fixed into the centre of the upper side at an angle sufficiently acute to allow the Beater to be brought down flat on the turf when in use TURF-SPADE, or TURFING-IRON. An implement used for lifting turf that has previously been cut through with an edging-iron or a turf-raser. It has a bent handle, and a heart-shaped, flat blade, and is much handier for the purpose than an ordinary spade, as, if properly used, any quantity of turf may be cut of about a uniform thickness.
