The Lawn 219 



The Care of the Lawn 



The fall of the year is particularly recommended 

 for starting grass. At this season the ground is 

 thoroughly warmed and there is usually a copious 

 rainfall to hasten germination of the seed, and 

 enable the grass to become firmly established 

 before winter sets in. When the grass recom- 

 mences growth in the spring it takes full posses- 

 sion of the ground and crowds out the weeds. A 

 lawn started in the fall of the year will endure the 

 next summer's drought much better than a lawn 

 sown in the spring. 



To produce a closely interwoven, firm, deep, and 

 elastic turf, a mixture of seed should be sown. If 

 various kinds of grasses are started, the different 

 kinds arriving at their best during different months 

 of the year, the lawn will have a perpetual cover- 

 ing of green which cannot be secured when a single 

 variety is sown. 



If the birds pick up the grass seed, stretch black 

 garden netting over the ground until the grass has 

 appeared. If the lawn covers a good deal of 

 space, it may be necessary to sow a part of it at a 

 time, unless a great quantity of netting is at hand. 



