PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE 141 



Whatever the conditions, deep working is the 

 first step, with an appHcation of Hme anywhere 

 except in a limestone region. Allow from sixty 

 to sixty -five pounds to a plot 25 by 100 feet in 

 size. When the general surface has been leveled 

 after working over to a depth of eight or ten 

 inches or even more, seed freely, using only seed 

 from the highest grade nursery or seedman. 

 Buy always by weight, never by dry measure; 

 and get the selected, recleaned seed. It costs 

 more than the chaff and sweepings which make 

 up the cheaper grades, but it is more than worth 

 the difference. Allow between six and seven 

 pounds for a space 25 by 100 feet. 



The six weeks from the beginning of April on 

 are usually the best for sowing a new lawn, al- 

 though fall sowing is a great advantage if one 

 can be ready for it by the end of September. 

 Within five or six weeks from the time of sowing, 

 if this is done in the spring, the first clipping 

 should be done, providing all conditions have 

 been favorable. This seems very soon perhaps, 

 but it is this early cutting which helps to make 

 a dense and compact stand eventually. 



Grass should never be cut shorter than two 

 inches on either new or old lawns, for its roots 

 are left unprotected from the scorching sun 

 when it is shorter than this, and this means that 



