THE LAWK PROBLEM Lis THE SOUTH 



BY W. C. COKER 



A perfect lawn as understood in our northern and middle 

 states, Great Britain, and Europe generally, is a dense, 

 homogeneous, evergreen carpet, composed of a single species 

 of grass. Only in rare circumstances can such an ideal he 

 fully attained, and it cannot be even approximated without 

 good soil, water in dry periods, and constant care against the 

 encroachment of weeds. As we are seriously handicapped by 

 long, hot and dry summers, the ownership of a good lawn in 

 the South will never be easy, and will always be the evidence 

 of intelligence and care. 



The factors that are necessary to the making of a good 

 lawn are: (1) a rich and well drained soil; (2) the right 

 grass or grasses ; (3) water; (4) care (removal of weeds, fre- 

 quent mowings, top dressings, etc.). As we usually neglect 

 all of these essential factors, it is not hard to explain our 

 failure. 



To those who are willing to give their lawms the proper 

 start and subsequent care, we suggest the following proced- 

 ure : See that the soil is well-drained and all rocks, stumps, 

 and trash are removed, and if the surface is irregular with 

 ridges and sinks, a drag should be used to produce a per- 

 fectly level surface, or even slope. Give the area a heavy ap- 

 plication of stable manure in the spring, at the rate of fifty 

 two-horse wagon loads to the acre, and turn under deeply ; 

 put on a heavy application of water-slacked lime or of ground 

 limestone, at the rate of about three tons to the acre, and 

 harrow repeatedly with a cutaway harrow ; continue this 

 harrowing every two or three weeks during the summer. 

 About September 15th to the first of October add ground 

 bone or cotton seed meal at the rate of 1,000 pounds to the 

 acre, and harrow again, following the cutaway with a tooth 

 harrow. After this give a finishing touch by raking by hand 

 with a fine tooth rake. When this is done sow, at the rate of 



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