98 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



which you lay them loosened so that they can be pounded 

 down into it with a wooden mallet. 



The construction of roads is a more difficult task and one 

 that must be thoroughly done. An ordinary dirt road, 

 unless it is naturally high and dry, should be drained, pref- 

 erably under ground along one or both curves. Under 

 ordinary conditions common drain tile may be put in and 

 will give satisfactory results. The surfaces of all roads, and 

 walks, too, should be slightly convex so that rain will run 

 off rapidly to one side. Roads or gutters on steep grades 

 or on light soils that are likely to wash badly should be 

 protected by cobbling. 



Sodding a Steep Slope 



Steep slopes, especially near the house, should be graded 

 and kept in a good firm sod if there is any tendency to wash. 

 Terraces are frequently used, but banks graded to even 

 curves usually look better and are much easier to care for. 

 Steep slopes are often difficult to seed in the ordinary way 

 because every rain or wind may do considerable damage 

 before a sod is formed. In such cases sodding or turfing 

 must be resorted to. Sometimes a combination of sodding 

 and seeding may be used. This is accomplished by laying 

 the sod in strips crossing at right angles, and heavily seeding 

 the intervening spaces. In using this method it is essential 

 to keep the ground from drying out until the sod becomes 

 established. For very steep grades and banks where sod 

 put on in the usual way will not stick, start at the bottom 

 of the bank and lay the sod in tiers, with the edge of each 

 tier two inches or so back of the edge of the tier below it. 

 Beat the surface as smooth as possible with a spade as soon 

 as the sod is in place, and keep well watered until a new 

 surface is formed. 



First Work with the Lawn 



Early in the spring the lawn should be given a thorough 

 cleaning to remove the winter mulch, if any was used, and 



