LAWNS AND PLAYGROUNDS. 361 



be rolled, take 6 inches of the surface away, then trench 2 feet deep, 

 keeping the good soil on the top as you proceed. Tread firmly all over 

 and fill up to the level with good soil ; mix with the loam, burnt 

 ballast, old brick rubbish, half-inch crushed bones, and road 

 sidings or sweepings. Then turf and treat as in the case of new lawns. 

 On old lawns there are very often handsome deciduous trees too 

 close to which it would be dangerous to trench. To get grass to 

 grow under these, take away 2 inches of the exhausted soil, replace 

 with good, and sow thereon grass seed thickly. Rake the seed in 

 gently, roll it lightly, and water when necessary. This may be re- 

 peated in the same way as often as the soil under the trees becomes 

 bare. 



In some cases where turf is scarce, a roll of turf 3 feet long 

 and i foot wide may be taken and cut in half lengthways. With 

 this form the outlines of the beds, which have been staked out pre- 

 viously, beat down to the level required, and bring up the interven- 

 ing spaces to the level of the turf with good soil. Make this firm, rake 

 it level, and on this sow some good grass seed. Bush harrow it over, 

 roll lightly, and protect from birds where these are troublesome. Cut 

 the grass when 6 inches high with a scythe, and keep it well watered 

 during the summer if the weather is dry. In this way a beautiful lawn 

 may be had at little expense as compared with turfing it completely 

 over. 



LAWNS ON PEATY AND SANDY SOILS. In some parts of Hamp- 

 shire and Surrey, where peat and sand abound, seeds are by far the 

 best to use to form a good turf. Remove all peat from the site you 

 wish for a lawn, pile it on the outside of the work and cast plenty of 

 water upon it. Then take out 2 or 3 inches of the dark sand 

 that lies under the peat, and cast this also over the pile of peat. 

 Take out 12 inches of the sand, dig all over 12 inches deep and 

 tread it firmly. Get all the road scrapings and road trimmings to 

 be had with a little clay and stiff loam, and cast upon the peat pile. 

 Having got together the quantity you think will fill up to your 

 level, cut up small the peat you have in the pile and mix all well 

 together with this, fill up to the level, tread firmly all over, then give 

 everywhere a good coating of cow manure, turned 3 inches under 

 the surface, and tread firmly all over. In the month of March sow 

 thickly. Do not let the surface get dry the first summer, and cut the 

 grass when 6 inches high with a scythe. 



Attention should be paid to keeping all lawns free from weeds. 

 Dress lawns once a year with one bushel of salt mixed with fourteen 

 bushels of wood ashes not too much burnt using for this purpose 



