390 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYLOCPED1A. 



some of the best earth to cover these spots with, so that the 

 grass may make a uniform growth. It will pay also to dress 

 the surface liberally with fine manure, or with bone meal at the 

 rate of four hundred pounds to the acre. 



After the land has settled, and every depression been filled 

 so that the grade is just right, harrow the surface fine, sow 

 your grass seed and cover it lightly by dragging with a light 

 plank drag. Most writers recommend a mixture of several 

 kinds of grasses for the lawn, but I would sow only timothy 

 and blue-grass, and with it a little oats. I would sow at the 

 rate of two bushels of blue-grass and half a bushel of timothy 

 and two bushels of oats to the acre. The oats will cover the 

 ground in three or four weeks so as to relieve the bare look, 

 and will shade and protect the young grass. Just as soon as it 

 is high enough so that a scythe will cut it, it should be mown, 

 and once every ten days or two weeks afterward. By the mid- 

 dle of June your yard will look well, and before fall there will 

 be a good turf. It will pay to do this work of grading and 

 seeding thoroughly for when once done it is done for a life-time. 

 A lawn can be kept in better condition with a lawn mower than a 

 scythe, but on a smooth grade a sharp scythe will do good work. 



Shrubs and Flowers. Whether shrubbery does or does 

 not add to the beauty of a door-yard depends entirely on its 

 management. I believe that in a majority of cases it detracts 

 from rather than adds to it. I would advise, first, that no 

 shrubbery be planted in front of the house; second, that no 

 part of the grounds be crowded, and, third, that as a rule all 

 shrubs be in groups in cultivated beds. All that should be 

 allowed in the front yard, beside shade trees and grass, is a 

 border of flowers along the walk. There are a few shrubs that may 

 stand singly for example, the lilac, snow-ball, and japonica 

 but each should have a circle around it, spaded and kept clear 

 of grass and weeds. Most varieties of roses and other shrubs 

 should be grown in groups, and a much better effect will be 

 produced by a rose garden containing one or two square rods, 

 and kept trimmed and spaded, than by a dozen or more roses 

 scattered here and there, struggling with the grass. 



