THE LAWN 87 



as deeply as possible with a strong iron rake. It is useless merely 

 to scratch the surface. It must be thoroughly scarified to a con- 

 siderable depth. Unless this operation be efficiently performed, 

 the roots of the new grass will be quite unable to penetrate deeply 

 in the soil, and at the first touch of frost, intense heat, or drought 

 the grass will perish. After the soil has been thoroughly broken 

 up the surface should be made level by pressing it down with 

 the back of a spade, and by adding a sprinkling of fine soil, com- 

 posed of leaf mould, sandy loam, and well-rotted stable manure, 

 which has previously been passed through a fine sieve. The seeds 

 should then be distributed evenly over the soil, so thickly that they 

 almost touch one another. A slight covering of fine soil beaten 

 down gently with the back of a spade, and afterwards lightly 

 rolled, will complete the opera- 

 tion. In ten days or a fortnight 

 the new grass will make its 

 appearance. If the weather is 

 dry, watering may be necessary. 

 Tliis should be done from a fine- 

 rosed can, care being taken not 

 to wash the seed out. If the 

 weather is warm in October it 

 may or may not be necessary to 

 cut the new grass. But in any case the mowing machine must 

 not be used. If the tops of the shoots be clipped with a pair of 

 shears a close growth will be promoted. The mowing machine 

 must not be brought into use until the grass has made a thick 

 growth and become thoroughly established. 



No lawn that is dotted here and there with depressions or 

 mounds can be considered satisfactory. If these defects are 

 apparent, they should be attended to in spring and autumn, 

 while the ground is soft. To fill up a hollow, cut round the 

 depression and roll back the turf in the manner depicted above. 



Loosen the soil underneath with a fork, and add sufficient fine 

 loam to bring the grass up to the proper level. Then replace the 

 turf, water and roll thorouglily. In the case of a mound or hump 



