368 OKKAMEJS'TAL GARDENING. 



CHAPTER XL^T. 



NOVEMBER AND DECEIUBER. 

 FALL MANURING. 



Every other year, or every three years, the lawn should 

 receive a top-dressing of manure, and provided the right 

 article of this is at hand, the fall months is the best time 

 to apply it. The best top-dressing is an inch deep of 

 thoroughly decayed manure, and if so old and fine that 

 there will be nothing left to rake off in the spring, all 

 the better. Objections to fresh manure are its offen- 

 siveness, and that it is liable to contain weed seeds, which 

 will make trouble. If such manure is at hand, the apply- 

 ing of it may be deferred until February or March, for 

 the sake of not having it on so long, while some prefer 

 that time for applying any kinds of fertilizers. Bone 

 manures are excellent for the lawn and free from weeds. 

 Manure should also be applied occasionally as a surface 

 dressing under plantations of all evergreen and decidu- 

 ous trees and shrubs. Put on several inches here, and it 

 will tell in increased vigor very perceptibly. Where it 

 is desirable to do an extra job on specimen trees, the sod 

 may have four or more cuts made into it in diverging 

 lines from the tree, as far out as the limbs extend, and 

 then each section of sod between the cuts be lifted and 

 rolled up outwards all around, so as to expose the soil 

 below. Then remove three or four inches of the soil, 

 throw in some fine old manure at the bottom of the 

 opening, and afterwards fill in the earth again and roll 

 the sods in their place, to firm them down. 



FALL PROTECTION. 



The best time to ai^ply any fall protection is in the last 

 days before winter sets in, which is usually about the 

 latter part of November. There are many trees, shrubs, 



