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The primary requisite is thorough preparation of the soil. Without 

 this failure is probable ; but if properly done at the outset, success is 

 certain, with subsequent intelligent management. First of all a good 

 foundation must be laid by draining and subsoiling, trenching, manur- 

 ing, or otherwise loosening and enriching the soil. With limited lawns 

 spade-trenching will be at once thorough and permanent ; but where a 

 plow and other implements can be used, the work may be executed 

 much more economically, and by using the subsoil plow in connection 

 with the common surface-turning, a depth of 18 inches will be reached, 

 which on ordinary good corn-producing lands will be ample prepara- 

 tion for a good lawn. Previous to the final plowing a heavy dressing 

 of manure should be applied. This should be well decomposed, more 

 especially if the soil is partially of a gravelly or sandy character. 



The surface must be rendered smooth and regular. Careful plowing 

 can accomplish much towards making a smooth surface ; but whatever 

 the expense may be, the finish should be made perfect before sowing 

 the grasses. There are two seasons for sowing autumn and spring 

 either of them appropriate ; and the choice will depend upon circum- 

 stances, and is of secondary consideration compared to the preparation 

 of the land. To get rid of weeds and clean the ground before laying 

 it down in grass it is a commendable practice to plant it with early 

 potatoes. These, if cultivated with ordinary care, will soon cover the 

 surface with their leaves, and prevent the growth of weeds : and the 

 operation of digging up the crop and removing it tends to pulverize 

 and loosen the soil. The potatoes can be removed and grass seed sown 

 by the middle of August to the middle of September, and the grasses 

 will vegetate and cover the surface before frosts. A top dressing of 

 thinly sprinkled manure will protect the young plants during the win- 

 ter, and a good thick-set lawn will be secured early in the following 

 summer. 



In hard, clayey loams, where a sufficiently comminuted surface is not 

 so easily obtained, the ground should be prepared in the latter portion 

 of the year and plowed over, so as to leave a rough surface to be acted 

 upon by frost during the winter. This will insure a friability not easily 

 attainable by mechanical means on tenacious soils. The seeds should 

 be sown as early as can be done in the spring, but not until the ground 

 is dry. Working a clayey soil when it is wet is ruinous to the future 

 crop. 



In the immediate preparation of the ground before seeding the sur- 

 face should be pulverized by the harrow and roller if necessary. The 

 seed will be sufficiently covered by passing a light harrow or roller over 

 the ground. The former is best in clayey or baking soils, and the roller 

 on light and sandy soils. 



The best grasses for permanent lawns are red top (Agrostis vulgaris) 

 and June grass (Poa pratensis.) The following proportions have been 

 used in the lawns of this Department with great satisfaction : One 

 red top, 2 bushels June grass, 1 quart timothy to each acre of 



