THE LAWN. 23 



opportunity to admire, for such men are not usually trou- 

 bled with friends, may have cost him ^5,000 or $10,000. 

 We have two or three notable examples of this kind in our 

 immediate neighborhood, but it is gratifying to know 

 that such neighbors are not numerous, for the example 

 of the majority will soon shame them into decency. To 

 have a lawn in first rate condition, the ground must be 

 put in order in the way described under the heads of 

 *' Draining " and '^Preparation of the Soil ;" for if these 

 are necessary anywhere, they are still more necessary for 

 the lawn, the soil of AA^hich should be as thoroughly pul- 

 verized and enriched by manure as any ground intended 

 for the cultivation of either vegetables or fruits. 



Great care must be taken to have the surface of the 

 ground for the law^n (unless a very large one) made 

 perfectly level ; for if this is not done before the lawn is 

 sown, it cannot be altered except at great expense and 

 inconvenience. After the surface is made level roughly, 

 it should be further smoothed with the rake, or, what is 

 even better, the disc harrow (see Implements), and all 

 stones of any considerable size removed, so that the surface 

 will be smooth for the action of the lawn mower. Wher- 

 ever the extent of the lawn does not exceed 2,500 square 

 feet, and where sods can be obtained from a suitable pasture 

 near at hand without much cost, the quickest way to make 

 the lawn is to sod it ; but before doing so, the ground 

 should be rolled or beaten down, particularly if any por- 

 tion of it has been filled in, so that there may be no 

 *' settling" to form hollows or inequalities. A conven- 

 ient size of sod to lay down is twelve by eighteen inches, 

 and of a thickness of tw^o inches. In laying see that the 

 edges are neatly laid together, and the whole firmly 

 beaten down with the back of a spade. If it is dry 

 Aveather when the work is done, it may be necessary to 

 thoroughly drench the newly-laid sod for a week or so 

 after, every other evening. When the lawn is too ex- 



