TRANSPLANTING 287 



they arrive too late in the Fall to be set out; or for several weeks in the 

 Spring if dehvered before satisfactory conditions for planting appear. 

 Of course the soil in and on top of the trench must be kept moist in 

 very dry weather. 



Finally, we may consider sodding, which is practically the trans- 

 planting of grass. The main object in doing this well is, of course, to 

 get a strip of strong sod of uniform width and thickness. Success will 

 depend largely upon having a good turf underlain with a good clean 

 soil free from stone, to cut from. Strips a foot wide and any desired 

 length are first cut with a grass edger or path trimmer. One man then 

 cuts the strip loose by sliding a spade or regular sodding tool under it, 

 while a second man rolls the strip tightly toward him. As a rule 

 pieces two and a half to three feet long are most convenient to handle. 

 As in all transplanting, the soil should be slightly moist for best results. 

 The ground to be sodded should be carefully prepared and the soil fined 

 and made perfectly smooth and shghtly higher than would seem 

 necessary. Next lay the strips of sod, butting them tightly together 

 and adding or removing soil beneath wherever this is necessary to pro- 

 duce a smooth surface. Fill any cracks or breaks with fine soil and 

 when a considerable area is sodded go over it and pound it down firmly 

 with the back of a flat-bladed spade. A heavy tamper may also be used 

 or a lawn roller, provided the latter is not permitted to move or loosen 

 the sod. When thoroughly firmed, water the new grass plot well, 

 soak it in fact, and keep up a program of rolling, watering and cutting 

 as required until it is well estabhshed. Bare spots should be treated 

 to a dusting of grass seed. 



Here again we find of most importance the fundamental sugges- 

 tions or precautions back of all transplanting: Disturb the roots as 

 little as possible (that is, cut the sod as deep as you can conveniently 

 handle it). Do not expose the roots to the sun and drying wind a 

 moment longer than absolutely necessary. Firm the soil thoroughly 

 after transplanting (in this case by beating with a spade). Water 

 promptly and abundantly whenever necessary, and refrain from sprink- 

 ling in between. Trim back the top growth to balance the unavoidable 

 injury to the feeding root system (by having the grass cut short before 

 cutting the sod and keeping it trimmed after it is in place) . 



