FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



51 



maintained unless there is reasonably "ood surface drainage, and, of 

 course, satisfactory cellars are never had unless the foundations are 

 properly supplemented by cut-off tile drains. 



If we would haye a good canvas— lawn— on which to build our picture, 

 we must prepare the ground carefully. There is very little danger of 

 h'aving it too rich; there is absolutely no danger of fining the soil too 

 much. The more thoroughly it is prepared, the better catch of seed do 

 we obtain. Another point is important, use plenty of seed. Stinginess 

 in using seed is repaid by a patchy, sparse looking lawn the first year, 



Fig. 3.— A Well-kept Open Lawn. 



Instead of an even, strong growth of grass which should appear 

 promptly after the seeding. As to lawn seed, there is nothing better 

 than June grass with 'a little timothy and white clover to help it to 

 thicken up the first year. The June grass will soon occupy the whole 

 ground and crowd out the timothy. It is quite safe to say that at least 

 three bushels, and probably better, four bushels, of seed should be used 

 per acre. Early spring is probably the most favorable time for seeding. 

 If the soil is sandy, use the roller by all means. Do not make the mis- 

 take of applying coarse barnyard manure as to top-dressing. If some 

 well-rotted and thoroughly broken-up loamy refuse can be found in 

 pockets about the barnyard or in the manure pit, this can be used with 

 advantage as a top-dressing in the fall; but otherwise, I would prefer 

 to depend upon a dressing of bone and blood or some other nitrogenous 

 fertilizer. 



One thing I would always have in the country is a border in which I 



