FOR FARM AND HOME PLANTING 13 



WALKS 



Walks. On the small place, the designing and laying out of the walks 

 and drive is a simple problem. They should be as direct and as convenient 

 as conditions will permit; but on the larger place where the house is 

 situated some distance back from the road, their design is often a more 

 perplexing problem. Besides being convenient and direct, they should 

 be graceful and pleasing in their lines, making them harmonious with the 

 natural landscape effect of the grounds. Frequently, they may enter the 

 property near the front corners and in simple sweeping curves approach 

 the building, leaving a broad unbroken front lawn effect. Such an effect 

 adds to the apparent extent of the grounds and produces an ideal setting 

 for the buildings and plantings. It is desirable, therefore, in arranging 

 the walks and drives to keep them well to the sides and boundaries when- 

 ever conditions permit. 



LAWNS 



A good lawn is the most important feature of a well developed home 

 grounds. It is often referred to as the canvass upon which the picture is 

 painted. It should possess openness and extent and be framed with 

 plantings of trees and shrubs about its borders. Never should it be 

 cluttered with meaningless plantings of individual shrubs and trees as is 

 most commonly done. Being such an essential and permanent source of 

 beauty, its construction and maintenance deserves the most careful con- 

 sideration. 



Construction. The soil for a lawn should be of good texture containing 

 plenty of plant food and enough humus to retain moisture. A strong clay 

 loam or a sandy loam with a clay subsoil most nearly approaches these 

 conditions. When a lawn is to be constructed upon light sandy soil, a top 

 dressing of about two inches of clay with a heavy application of well 

 rotted manure should be mixed with the first three or four inches of sand. 

 Frequently, in building a house, the soil excavated from the cellar is 

 spread about covering the good top soil with a poor sub-soil. This sub- 

 soil is of poor texture, contains little available plant food and is an extreme- 

 ly poor soil for lawns. Where it is necessary to use this sub-soil for filling, 

 the top soil should be first removed to be later replaced on the surface . 



In the grading of a lawn, first endeavor to obtain good surface drainage; 

 see that there is a slight slope away from the buildings; that there are no 

 low pockets where water may stand during the winter and spring, and that 

 the area as a whole, is either naturally or artificially well drained. 



Except in some very special cases, a level lawn should not be con- 

 structed. It lacks naturalness and decreases the apparent extent of the 

 lawn. In grading, endeavor to preserve the slight natural slopes and 

 curves of the land, remembering that nature never produces perfectly 

 level surfaces. This part of the grading should be carefully studied and 

 considered before starting the work. The way in which it is done will 

 determine whether a graceful, pleasing, natural lawn is secured or a stiff, 

 restrained, unsatisfactory one is the result. 



After the general slopes have been established, the land may be har- 

 rowed if necessary and any small uneven places smoothed off. 



