CHAPTER X 



MAKING A LAWN 



Making- a Lawn. 



THERE are two different ways of forming a lawn by 

 laying down turfs and by sowing seed. Which of these 

 two methods is the better depends entirely on the require- 

 ments. If a lawn is wanted quickly, it can be got by 

 using turfs; but if a good lawn is required at small 

 expense, and there is sufficient patience to wait for it, 

 then by all means let seed be sown. The disadvantage 

 in laying down turf is, that the defects of an old lawn 

 are thus implanted, and gain renewed vigour on a new. 

 With seed-sowing we have, so to speak, a carte blanche to 

 work upon. The first thing to consider is whether the 

 ground is drained. If not, then that work should at once 

 be performed. In heavy soils the drains will need to be 

 nearer the surface, and nearer to each other, than in a 

 lighter soil. In no case should they be less than eighteen 

 inches from the surface. Let us, however, presume that 

 drainage is completed; there is still another important 

 work to perform, and that is to dig and trench the ground 

 to the depth of eighteen inches if possible, and in any case 

 not less than one foot. In this work an eye should be 

 kept to making the soil level, by freeing the surface from 

 lumps and hollows. It is a good plan to work among the 

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