PRACTICAL BOOK OF GARDEN ARCHITECTURE 



lumps of clay are thoroughly chopped with hatchets 

 and spades into pieces of about the size of a hen's 

 egg. The chopped- clay must then be spread, a 

 narrow section at a time, to a uniform depth all over 

 the court. Each section will require thorough pound- 

 ing and tramping down, until the lumpy clay surface 

 becomes well packed to a tough, firm smoothness. 

 It is then ready for screeding down with what is 

 known as a straight edge, in the same manner as 

 cement floors are treated, to fill in all depressions 

 and smooth off the surplus clay and projections. 



When it is impossible to obtain a good grade of the 

 "binding gravel" mentioned or the yellow or blue 

 clay of putty-like characteristics, it may be necessary 

 to compromise on a " dirt ' ' tennis court. This term 

 applies to any dirt or brown clay surface which re- 

 quires a special preparation of the foundation to 

 insure a good firm surface without puddles in time 

 of rain, and without dust in times of drought. The 

 usual excavation of two feet or more in depth, recom- 

 mended for country club or other public courts sub- 

 jected to frequent and heavy play, will not be re- 

 quired for the home court. The two-foot excavation 

 usually calls for nearly a foot of tilf ord, with a six- 

 inch covering of cinders, and the six-inch topping of 

 prepared clay or dirt. The home court will be dur- 

 able with an excavation of about twelve to sixteen 



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