60 



On many lawns it is noticed that tlie grass is not thriving. It has 

 a sickly appearance and even the application of fertilizer does not 

 seem to remedy the conditions. Perhaps the ground has become so 

 hard the air cannot penetrate and the grass is being smothered. If 

 the surface of the soil can be loosened with a garden rake and clover 

 seed sown, much good may be accomplished. The clover is a tap- 

 rooted plant, and sends it main root deep into the soil. 



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34. — AfteJ' the clover dies the soil is in better condition for its hewing lived. 



After the death of the plant the root decays, the nitrogen which 

 is stored up can be used as food by the other plants, and most use- 

 ful of all, in such cases, the decay of the tap-root of the clover 

 makes a passage deep into the soil and thus allows the air to enter. 



Consult Figs. 32-34. 



452 



