5^ STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



garden is from six to ten feet above the streets that bound it on 

 three sides, and the surface slopes from the centre towards the 

 west and towards the east, and a terrace on the margin extends to 

 the sidewalk, so that the surface and the surplus water of the soil 

 readily flows off, and all the waste water from the house and that 

 from the house of a neighbor seventy-five feet distant, is conveyed 

 away through brick drains from the cellars, hence no additional 

 drainage of the lot is required. If it had been level or wet it 

 would have been necessary to lay an underground drain through 

 the centre. Thus a dry soil is secured at all seasons of the year, 

 and a healthy uniform growth of plants and trees. It is equally 

 important to make the soil deep, rich and mellow, so that the 

 roots of the grass may descend easily in pursuit of the necessary 

 moisture and nutriment, and from their distance below the surface, 

 may thus escape the bad* effects of the drouths and heat of sum- 

 mer. In this way only can a fine, handsome, close turf be ob- 

 tained, which shall flourish in perennial verdure, maintaining its 

 vigor season after season, with little additional treatment. 



It having been determined to convert a plat of ground fifty feet 

 by sixty into a lawn, all the plants, shrubs and trees which were 

 not required for ornament were removed the last of September. 

 The surface was covered with a plentiful supply of old, well com- 

 posted manure, and the ground was spaded two feet deep, taking 

 care to distribute this manure evenly with the soil, so that green 

 ;8pots and patches may not disfigure the lawn. If this work is 

 done in early autumn, the seeds of the weeds contained in the 

 fertilizing material will be apt to germinate, and before reaching 

 •maturity these weeds will be destroyed by the frosts of winter, 

 and consequently the next season the grass will be less infested 

 by undesirable plants. 



Early in the spring as soon as the soil is free from frost, and 

 ■friable, the grouTid was graded, raked and thoroughly rolled so as 

 to be smooth and compact. It was then raked again and English 

 lawn grass with a small quantity of white clover was sown on a 

 ■caln) day, evenly and thickly so as to cover the entire surface, 

 and then rolled again when the work was complete. If this sow- 

 ing is done before the early vernal rains, the seed is sure to come 

 'Up quickly and evenly, and become well rooted and vigorous 

 before the soil is dry, and this germination is also promoted by 

 the additional rolling. The seed ought to be used at the rate of 

 at least four bushels to the acre so as to ensure a close, firm turf. 



