172 Growing Flowers 



When cutting and raking the grass, save the clip- 

 pings. They will make excellent humus and no 

 commercial fertilizer need be bought for the sake 

 of obtaining humus. 



A layer of manure applied to the lawn in the fall, 

 leaving it on all winter, will insure bright, green 

 grass the following spring. A covering of wood 

 ashes or crushed bone will also be beneficial and 

 if manure is alternated each season with one of the 

 last two mentioned, it will be even better. 



Seed 



Deal only with a reliable seedsman. A seed house 

 which has built up a reputation on the produce 

 from its seed is not going to keep in stock old seed 

 which will tend to endanger its reputation. It pays 

 to purchase the best of seed. 



To have the seed bed well prepared before the seed 

 is planted will give the young plants the very best 

 start. If the soil must be fertilized after the growth 

 has started, the plants will receive a setback by 

 the change in soil. They should be permitted to 

 grow undisturbed until leaves have formed. 



The depth to which seeds are planted should be 

 determined by the size of the seed. Very fine seed 



