Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site rochester.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!rochester!nemo
From: nemo@rochester.UUCP (Wolfe)
Newsgroups: net.garden,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Grass
Message-ID: <10559@rochester.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 12-Jul-85 09:34:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: rocheste.10559
Posted: Fri Jul 12 09:34:29 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 14:34:44 EDT
References: <11461@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Distribution: net
Organization: U. of Rochester, CS Dept.
Lines: 34
Xref: watmath net.garden:596 net.consumers:2599

> Grass is *terrible* stuff, unless you can eat it. 
I have a friend who used to raise the stuff in flats inside and eat it.
I thought he was a bit nutso, but he seemed to like it.

> Why haven't we long ago realized that grass is the wrong
> stuff to put around our houses, and chosen instead some nice
> low-growing, no-maintenance ground cover that will force out weeds on
> its own and let people enjoy their little plots of land instead of
> having to slave over them to keep them looking "nice", by an arbitrary
> social standard?
"We" did realize this long ago, but have just forgotten it recently.  I
think that there is a section on lawns in a book by the name of "Enjoy
Your Weeds" (or something like that - it's been a while.  And no, they
are not talking about the hemp weed).  Apparently, chamomile and various
other herbs, as well as clover, etc. were commonly used for ground cover
in the preceding century.  Grass was considered a weed and pulled on sight.

> Will Martin

As for reasons, maybe the fact that it grows like a weed and is also 
very tolerant of drought made it a popular choice by those who didn't wish
to spend hours picking the grass out of their lawn (if you can't beat 'em,
join 'em).  I must agree that I consider it extremely stupid that most
folks try to maintain a grass lawn in Florida.  And the most common
alternative I've seen there is a *pebble* "lawn".  Yuch!  Talk about hot!
I personally plan to make jungle....
Nemo
-- 
Internet:	nemo@rochester.arpa
UUCP:		{decvax, allegra, seismo, cmcl2}!rochester!nemo
Phone:		[USA] (716) 275-5766 work, 232-4690 home
USMail:		104 Tremont Circle; Rochester, NY  14608
School:		Department of Computer Science; University of Rochester;
		Rochester, NY  14627