A Chapter on Lawns 307 



surface will have ample time to settle, and take a proper 

 shape before spring. 



After being plowed, subsoiled and harrowed, let the whole 

 surface be entirely cleared of even the smallest stone. It 

 is quite impossible to mow a lawn well that is not as smooth 

 as ground can be made. Manure, if necessary, should be 

 applied while subsoiling. We say, if necessary, for if the 

 land is strong and in good heart it is not needed. The 

 object in a lawn, it will be remembered, is not to obtain 

 a heavy crop of hay, but simply to maintain perpetual 

 verdure. Rich soil would defeat our object by causing a 

 rank growth and coarse stalks, w^hen we wish a short growth 

 and soft herbage. Let the soil, therefore, be good, but not 

 rich; depth, and the power of retaining moisture, are the 

 truly needful qualities here. If the land is very light and 

 sandy (the worst naturally), we would advise a mixture of 

 loam or clay; which indeed subsoiling, when the substratum 

 is heavy, will often most readily effect. 



The soil thus prepared lies all winter to mellow and settle 

 with the kindly influences of the atmosphere and frost 

 upon it. As early in the spring, as it is in friable working 

 condition, stir it lightly with the plough and harrow, and 

 make the surface as smooth as possible- - we do not mean 

 level, for if the ground is not a flat, nothing is so agreeable 

 as gentle swells or undulations. But quite smooth the sur- 

 face must be. 



Now for the sowing; and here a farmer would advise you 

 to "seed down with oats," or some such established agri- 

 cultural precept. Do not listen to him for a moment! 

 What you desire is a close turf, and therefore sow nothing 

 but grass; and do not suppose you are going to assist a 

 weak growing plant by sowing along with it a coarser 

 growing one to starve it. 



* Mr. Downing apparently means to say that subsoiling will bring up 

 some of the clay subsoil and mix it with the more sandy surface soil. 

 Attention should be directed, however, to the fact that subsoiling, a 

 practice not greatly in vogue at the present time, is actually a damage 

 to light sandy soils. In such soils bottom drainage may be too free, and 

 a further opening of the subsoil will only make matters worse. - V. \. W. 



