4^2 GRASSES OF IOWA. 



foroaed is to renain undisturbed; the sward is to be permanent, 

 and hence the importance of most thorough preparation of the 

 soil. In most ca>es, particularly in eastern and northern 

 states, a liberal application of fertilizers is necessary. If the 

 land is native sod, this should be top-dressed in the fall with 

 well-rotted stable or birnyard manure, and the sod then turned 

 by plowing. The decomposition of this sod will add to the soil 

 that most valuable of fertilizing elements, humus. In the 

 following spring a top-dressing of old well-composted manure 

 should be applied at the rate of 8 to 12 cords to the acre, 

 according to th3 natural fertility of the soil, and the land cross 

 plowed. The surface then should be made as tine as possible 

 by repeated harrowings aad thorough rolling before the seed 

 is sown. The deeper the soil is stirred in plowing the better 

 the results and the less care will be required in keeping the 

 soil in good condition. 



"The nature of the subsoil has great influence upon the 

 growth of the grass and the permanence and beauty of the 

 lawn. Over a light and gravely subsoil the grass is not 

 infrequently destroyed by summer droagh^-.. The best soil for 

 the formation of the lawn is a fine, saady loam over clay sub- 

 soil. Where the effects of heat and dr jught ara most severely 

 felt, the S3il must be most deeply and thoroughly worked in 

 its preparation. It not infrequently happens in the case of 

 dooryards and plots surrounding city and suburban residences 

 that the soil is largely composed of the earth excavated in 

 making the foundations. This earth is entirely unsuited for 

 the g owth of grass, and, where a lawn is desired, should be 

 entirely removed or covered to a sufficient depth with fine earth 

 rich in humus, to insure the healthy and permanent growth 

 of the grass. This aided soil should be at least one foot in 

 depth and a depth of two feet will repay the extra labor in the 

 final results. 



"In western states and in the south it is not customary to stir 

 the soil so deeply as recommended above. The practice, how- 

 ever, can well be applied in most localities in the south, but in 

 *the west, where the soil conditions are essentially different 

 from those in the east, the method pursued must be governed 

 by the local requirements. A coarse, uneven soil will only 

 yield coarse grasses and finely worked surface will produce 

 the finer sorts, which alone are desired. 



