GRADING, DRAINAGE AND LAWNS 21 



Seeding should be done on a quiet day to insure an even distribu- 

 tion. If the seed is spread by broadcasting, instead of with a lawn 

 seeder, the lawn should 1 be broadcasted both ways to provide a uniform 

 seeding. After raking or harrowing the seed in, roll the ground in 

 order to firm the soil about the seed. A top dressing of one-half inch 

 of sheep manure or well rotted manure that has been screened will help 

 to keep the soil from becoming dry and hard and will afford a winter 

 protection to seed sown in the fall. This top dressing will also facilitate 

 watering when watering is necessary in dry weather. After the seed 

 is well started it should be rolled again with a light, hand roller. This 

 firms the soil about the roots and is supposed to cause the grass too stool 

 (spread out) more. 



When watering has to be done it should be done evenly and thor- 

 oughly. The ground should be gently soaked to a depth of several 

 inches and then left. Light sprinklings do more harm than good. 



As soon as the grass is high enough to cut, it should be mowed. 

 Mowing should be done frequently with the mower set in such a way 

 that the clipping will be two inches from the ground. The clippings 

 can be left on the lawn if the mowings are frequent. 



A winter protection is desirable the first winter. Well rotted 

 manure or sheep manure should be used and applied in a thin layer. 

 All material used for top dressings on lawns should be free from, weed 

 seeds. 



After the first year all that remains to be done to ensure the life of 

 the lawn is to go over it with a heavy roller each spring to firm the soil. 

 An occasional spring application of bone meal or liquid manure will 

 add fertility to the soil. 



SODDING 



Sodding is desirable for edging planting beds, walks and drives, 

 and for covering slopes. In order to obtain the best results, sodding 

 should be done in the early spring. The sod is taken up either with 

 a sharp spade or special cutting machine in strips one foot wide and 

 three feet or more long. An even cutting is desirable as it enables a 

 close union when the sod is laid. 



When the sod is laid the crevices between the separate pieces should 

 be filled with loose loamy soil. Sod laid on a slope should be so 



