PREPARATION OF SOIL FOR LAWN 117 



to thicken into a very good turf, but it must not be stinted in work. 

 Close, even cutting with a sharp mower, good raking, when desirable, 

 neat trimming of edges and weed-cutting or pulling, as may be required 

 and general cleanliness of the grass-spaces these must not be 

 neglected. 



And then if one really dare not undertake a lawn for any reason 

 of trouble or expense, he may still get continual verdure on his open 

 spaces by recourse to the ground-covering plants which will be 

 mentioned later in this chapter. 



HINTS ON LAWN MAKING. 



A plot of land for grass should be first graded sufficiently to re- 

 move small hummocks and to fill small hollows in which surplus 

 water may gather. If the plot has hollows too large to be filled to 

 a drainage grade, an under-ground drain of tile should be taken 

 from the low points to a gravity outflow unless the soil is very open 

 and deep enough to naturally distribute all water likely to come by 

 rainfall or sprinkling so that there shall not be standing water or mud 

 below the surface for that will cause growth of sedges or other 

 coarse stuff which is natural to such conditions. 



Preparation For Seeding. After providing for grade and drainage 

 a heavy coat of well-decomposed manure should be worked in by 

 spading to full reach of the tool. This should be done both on light 

 and heavy soils for the reasons given in Chapter III. Although, if 

 moisture conditions are favorable, you can get a catch of grass in a 

 garden with no more work than is given to sowing a pasture field, 

 you will make your whole future course of experience with that grass 

 plot more gratifying if you do a little harder work at beginning. 

 While spading give particular attention to breaking up clods and 

 chunks of manure by deft use of the spading fork, which the writer 

 has always found better than a flat-bladed spade, because of the 

 pulverizing effect of the tines in punching and striking lumps. 

 Dig for an even surface of course, but do not think you are doing 

 a good job if you are simply spreading it over a lot of clods and air- 

 spaces. It is not desirable to pulverize the surface too finely unless 

 you are doing a hurry up job late in the season or in a dry time and 

 are more fearful of the moisture you have than of anything else. 



When to Sow? Taking the state ,as a whole, except perhaps, the 

 high mountain valleys, the best time to put in a lawn is the early 

 autumn and if you have water to deeply wet the soil in August and 

 have it in the condition described in the last paragraph before the fall 

 rains begin, you will have made a good start. Let the ground lie 

 then for the rains, or if they are deferred, wet the surface by light 

 sprinkling so the early autumn heat may sprout the wild seeds. 



