324 ORKAMEKTAL GAKDEKIifG. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

 LAWN MAKING. 



There are two ways of maKing a ^awn, the one by sod- 

 ding or turfing, the other by sowing grass seeds. For 

 small gardens, the former is undoubtedly the best, while 

 for larger areas, seeding is necessarily done, as it gener- 

 ally makes a good lawn, and is much cheaper, although 

 more time is needed to bring it to perfection. 



If it can be done, the ground to be put into grass ought 

 to be allowed to settle during one or two good rains after 

 the last grading spoken of in Chapter XXXI, and then be 

 sodded or seeded. Otherwise some slight uneyenness may 

 appear after thorough settling. If the rain cannot be 

 waited for, the earth may be settled with the roller. An 

 earth rammer may also be brought into use, and if it is 



Fig. 128. — AN EAKTH-KAMMER AND SOD-BEETLE. 



found that any spots are softer than others, they 

 should be firmed by this tool, afterwards evening-up 

 the surface as may be needed, by the use of the rake. 

 Figure 128 shows an easily made earth-rammer and sod- 

 beetle combined, that will be found useful in a garden. 

 For firming earth it is used mostly in a perpendicular 

 position, striking the soil with the heaviest end ; but in 

 setting sods evenly, these are struck mostly with one of 

 the flat sides. It is workpd out of a solid piece of five by 

 five scantling, and about four and a half feet long. 



In laying sod, the surface of the ground should first be 

 slightly loosened with a rake to make a bed for the 

 grass roots, and if dry, sprinkled as fast as the turf is 

 brouhgt. The best turf is that taken from a pasture lot 

 or roadside, that has been kept low by grazing. That 

 where sheep have been pastured is preferred, as these 



