MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 39 
attended with success, however, and since the number of in- © 
quiries relative to the proper making and care of a lawn are 
constantly increasing, it seems: desirable that a few of the 
' fundamental principles of grass-growing be set forth for the 
benefit of the readers of the BULLETIN. 
_ Of course there are many different uses to which a lawn 
may be put, and the character and treatment varies some- 
what according to the specific end desired. The only kind of 
lawn which will be discussed here is that which the house- 
holder is anxious to secure, leaving the peculiar requirements 
for golf links, parks and similar special localities to some 
future time. . 
THE SOIL. 
The ideal soil for lawn grasses is one which, while remain- 
ing moist, never becomes saturated with water. Thus a 
clay or sandy loam, with a ¢lay subsoil, is much better adapted 
to the purpose than a light, loose soil, which dries out rapid- 
ly. Unfortunately, the land around a new house is not usually 
well adapted for a lawn, owing to its being mixed with the 
subsoil which has come from the excavation, or the undesir- 
able earth which is hauled in for grading. It is often neces- 
sary, therefore, to spend a year or more in getting the earth 
into proper condition before seeding it for a permanent lawn. 
While this may seem a waste of time, it must be remembered 
that the life of the lawn depends to a large extent upon the 
character of the soil, and that more can be done in one year 
before the grass becomes established than in many years 
afterwards. Nothing is lost and everything is to be gained 
by as nearly as possible getting the soil into proper condition 
before permanent seeding. 
PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 
In making a lawn for the first time on light, sandy soil, 
two or three inches of clay incorporated with the first four 
to six inches of sand will be of the greatest benefit. Stable 
manure at the rate of twenty to thirty loads per acre will 
assist in furnishing the scighesngy Caption and if a crop of 
legumes, such as cow-peas, can be grown and then turned 
under, the beneficial result will more than pay for the delay 
and expense. : 
Practically all lawn grasses prefer an alkaline soil, and in 
St. Louis, where, owing to the smoke, the tendency of the 
soil is to become acid, it is a desirable to add some 
form of lime. Air-slaked lime at the rate of from one-half 
