THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF THE TENNIS COURT 



the only sort that will make a satisfactory tennis 

 court without special drainage foundation. It is 

 usually secured in swampy sections. A few inches 

 below the muddy surface will be found the putty-like 

 layers of blue or yellow clay that is well worth the 

 expense of carting to the home court, as it will save 

 many dollars in expensive excavations, drainage 

 materials, and piping. 



With this clay, or the equally desirable " binding 

 gravel," only the firm soil foundation will be re- 

 quired. All the sod should be removed from the 

 court, with sufficient top soil to reach a hard packed 

 foundation, and allow a clay surface from four to six 

 inches in depth. 



The court must be carefully levelled, using grade 

 stakes at regular intervals to insure success. Then 

 instead of merely dumping the clay on the court 

 and working it up to uniform levels by chopping and 

 pounding it on the court, it will be better to have 

 the clay prepared outside of the court. When it is 

 brought from the swamp or clay bed, the putty-like 

 lumps will be too large to place directly on the foun- 

 dation. Both the clay and the surface of the solid 

 soil will require separate preparation if the court 

 builder is to be certain of perfect amalgamation and 

 keying of the clay. First the foundation surface is 

 slightly chipped all over with a spade. Then the big 



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