CHAPTER IX 

 THE LAWN 



Grading. In order that the lawn may be well drained, 

 it should have a gentle slope toward the street. If it is 

 necessary to remove elevations, the topsoil should first 

 be taken off in such a manner that it can be replaced. 

 A good lawn needs at least five inches of loam ; for a 

 good growth of shrubbery there must be twelve inches. 

 In case the topsoil has been disturbed in making ex- 

 cavations for constructing the building, new soil must 

 be provided. Three inches of clayey loam should be 

 added if the soil is mostly sand. 



A lawn that is elevated eight or ten inches above the 

 walk and held in place by a cement curbing usually has 

 a neat appearance, especially if the front yard is small. 

 Terraces in which the soil is held in place with turf are 

 attractive for home yards, but they should, as a rule, be 

 avoided in school yards. 



Manure. After the yard has been given a uniform 

 slope, spread over it a layer of from one to two inches 

 of well-rotted barnyard manure from which all coarse 

 material has been removed, so that the entire yard will 

 get a uniform coating of the good material. Manure 

 taken from cow barns is best. Fresh manure should 

 not be used ; it may contain weed seeds that will be 



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