306 



ELEMENTS OF FARM PRACTICE 



The Lawns. — When neatness has been established, con- 

 sider next the lawn. Many farmers have reasonably smooth 

 lawns covered with good sod. If this is well burned over 

 and thoroughly raked in the spring, it will not be difficult 

 to keep it cut with a lawn mower all summer. The grass 

 must be kept low or it will be difficult or perhaps impossible 

 to cut it with a lawn mower. A lawn mower may sound 



Figure 132. 



■View of a pleasant farm home, showing good effects of lawn, 

 vines and trees. 



like an extravagant article, but it is not expensive, consider- 

 ing the number of years one may be run. 



Many farm yards are bare and packed hard from fre- 

 quent travel. In such cases the aid of the father or *'big 

 brother" must be solicited to plow them up and perhaps 

 grade them a little. If the soil is not rich enough, a few 

 loads of manure and black earth might have to be hauled. 

 The boys and girls can finish the work by thoroughly rak- 

 ing the soil to prepare it for the seed. Blue grass alone is 

 the most desirable lawn grass; but, as this starts very slowly, 

 it is well to mix with it some more rapid growing varieties, 

 as white clover and redtop. Sow this mixture very thick, 

 and rake again to cover the seed. Roll the lawn to make 

 a smooth surface and give the seeds a better chance to start 

 quickly. 



