122 GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



doing, the rake always more or less injures the lawn 

 during the growing season. 



DESTROYING WEEDS. 



It sometimes happens that the soil contains seeds of 

 perennial plants. Such seeds are rarely found in the 

 grass seed, such as Dandelion, Dock, or Thistles, but they 

 seriously interfere with the beauty of the lawn. When 

 such occur, there is no other remedy than the slow pro- 

 cess of cutting them out with a knife. It is not necessary 

 to take them out by the root; if the " crowns " of these 

 perennial weeds are cut just below the surface, they will 

 not again grow. 



RENOVATING LAWNS. 



To renovate lawns that have become worn out by 

 neglect or other causes, and where it is not convenient 

 or desirable to renew by plowing up, they may be greatly 

 benefited by running a light harrow over them, if the 

 surface is large, or by a sharp steel rake for smaller 

 areas. After stirring the surface by such means judi- 

 ciously, so as not to too severely hurt the roots, lawn 

 grass seed should be sown over the surface, using about 

 half the quantity advised for new lawns. After sowing, 

 the surface should be harrowed or raked over, and firmly 

 rolled or beaten down; but if spurious grass or other 

 weeds have got possession of the lawn, then this way of 

 renovation would not be satisfactory, and it had better be 

 plowed under and sown afresh, in the manner already 

 given for the formation of the lawn. 



