THE HOME FLORIST. 



AC 



loose earth will settle. In Fig. 3 we will suppose the ground on each side of the dwelling 

 slants away towards the boundaries. The first step to take towards 

 setting the stakes for guiding the work of final grading is to pass 

 along the boundary and drive a stake at each corner of the lot to a 

 depth so that the head is at the desired height for the to be grade 

 in each place. Then drive four corresponding stakes also to 

 a depth at which the head will indicate the desired surface when 

 completed, around the dwelling, setting each far enough from the 

 corner to enable sighting from it to the next one to it on all sides of 

 the dwelling. After this, stakes are to be set in rows across each 

 section or slant of the grounds to guide the leveling ; but, as this can 

 only be done over one part at a time, we will illustrate how to pro- 

 ceed by directing the reader through each step of setting the stakes 

 on the wide plot of ground laying to the left of the house in Fig. 

 3. Let us suppose that the line b in Fig. 2 represents the surface 

 between the corner stakes driven at A b and A c in the upper part of 

 Fig. 3, and that the stakes shown at each end of this sectional cut, 

 with their heads to line (7, are these two corner stakes (A b, A c, 

 Fig. 3). Now drive a stake at the side of each of these stakes, 

 but with the heads, we will say exactly, 18 inches above them. These stakes are for 

 the purpose of sighting over to place three or five or more stakes between the two corner ones. 

 One person should sight while another drives the stakes; the former observing and directing the 

 depth they are to be driven. This sighting is illustrated in Fig. 2. After these intermediate 

 stakes are set, another stake should be driven at the side of each, with the top 18 inches 

 lower than top of the sighting stake, which it is obvious will, bring the heads of them in line 

 with the corner stakes just driven, as is shown by dotted line C in Fig. 2, which is the line of 

 the desired grade. We next proceed with the sighting and staking operation along the bound- 

 ary, from the upper corner stake A b to the lower corner stake A b, and also from A c to A c, 

 driving the same number of stakes on each, although line A b A b is much longer than the 

 other. The distance they are to be apart on each line may be arrived at by guess, as it is not 

 material that they be exactly the same distance apart. A good way is to set one at what would 

 be taken as half way between the corner stakes, and then dividing the distance to the corner on 

 each side in the same way, and so on until enough have been placed, being certain, however, 

 that the same number are on each line. After this is done, crosslines of sighting and guide 

 stakes are to be run from each stake in line A b A b to the corresponding stake in line A c A c, 

 in the manner described in my reference to Fig. 2, commencing at one end of the plot. The 

 other quarter sections around the house are each in turn to be laid out in the manner I have 

 described, after which the work of leveling may finally be completed. With these stakes at 

 ten, fifteen or twenty feet apart each way, it is easy to grade the earth evenly between them. 

 With the completion of grading and the removal of the stakes, we are brought to making walks 

 and drives, and sowing the lawn, each of which are considered in a separate article. 



The Lawn and Tree ^Planting. A good lawn, clean and well kept, one which 



presents a lively green appearance, from early in the spring until cold weather, is a sight worth 

 witnessing, and one well worth expending some labor and money upon to obtain. After the 

 ground is shaped to the desired grade, as described above, then the whole should be thoroughly 

 plowed, a sub-soil following in the wake of the common plow until it is thoroughly pulverized. 

 The soil from the first furrow made in plowing will be thrown above the^ommon level, and 

 after the piece is overturned this should be drawn or wheeled into the open furrow left by the 

 plow in finishing, that all may become even again. A heavy harrow should then be applied 

 until the surface is thoroughly fined down. It may now be noticed by the careful eye that slight 

 undulations still exist here and there about the grounds ; these can be leveled with a shovel or 

 hoe. All stones, roots, etc. , should also be removed so that a smooth surface may be obtained ; 

 these will be found useful for filling, in making walks and drives. To facilitate the work of 

 tree planting, which next should receive attention, small stakes should be set at the points 

 marked on the plan ; the planting should be done carefully and without unnecessarily digging or 

 disturbing the graded surface. After this the harrow or, better yet, the rake may again pass 

 over the surface, with afterwards the roller, and the lawn is ready to be sown. For small plats, 

 of course, digging, trenching, and raking must be done, instead of plowing, sub-soiling and 

 harrowing. Do not fall into the common error of using seed sparingly. Four bushels to the 

 acre is the proper quantity. I do not consider it very important what kind is sown. The 

 Red Top or Blue Grass are about the best, or the "mixtures" of desirable kinds. It is well 

 to add a pound or two of Sweet Vernal grass to the acre, for the delightful fragrance it emits; 

 also a quantity of White Clover, say one or two pounds to the acre. These are usually included 

 in the mixtures prepared by seedsmen. 



When the seed is sown, a light harrow or rake should be applied, and after that a thorough 

 rolling given, so that the surface become as smooth as possible. The seed may be sown any 

 time during the months of April and May, and will form a good lawn by August, if 

 the preparation has been good. If sown in the hot months of June or July, a sprinkling of 

 oats should be sown at the same time, so that the shade given by the oats will protect the young 



