Renovating and Improving Old Homes 109 



must be resorted to. Under these conditions the surface 

 must be graded by shaving off the projections as far as 

 possible, raising up the turf and filling up under it where 

 there are depressions, or grading over the uneven surface 

 with good soil, so as to present an even and flowing outline. 

 Then grass-seed of the same kind and at the same rate 

 per acre as for the new lawn, i.e., 2 bu. red-top, 2 bu. June- 

 grass, and 8 lbs. of white clover (the poorer the soil the 

 more seed should be used), should be sown, raked in with 

 a liberal dressing of fine manure, or fertilizer made as fol- 

 lows: i5cx5 lbs. of fine-ground bone, 3CX) lbs. of muriate 

 of potash, and 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda or sulphate of 

 ammonia, per acre. Treated in this way, if an abundance 

 of water is used and if the grass is frequently cut during the 

 summer, a good lawn may be obtained in one or two years, 



For new seeding the potash and nitrate of soda should be 

 thoroughly worked in w^ith the soil some time before the seed 

 is sown. 



The specially prepared lawn-dressings are equally good 

 in place of the above fertilizers, but more expensive. 



Smoothing Abrupt Slopes and Embankments 



As far as possible all abrupt slopes and embankments 

 should be graded down into well-rounded and graceful out- 

 lines. Such grades are much more beautiful than abrupt 

 terraces or slopes, more easily cared for, and there is no 

 danger from injury by the turf sliding down or being broken 

 down by stepping upon it in the spring as the frost is working 

 out of the ground. 



It is often possible to remove unsightly bank walls and 

 grade over the place with graceful rounded outlines that are 

 more natural and beautiful, and wherever possible this 

 should be done. By excavating in front of the bank wall, 



