LUTHER BURBANK 



you may confidently expect that your lawn and 

 garden will be noticeably benefited thereby. 



As to the preparation of the soil itself, every- 

 thing depends upon the local conditions, and only 

 general rules can be given. If the soil is very 

 sandy, it will be benefited by having clayey loam 

 spread over it and incorporated with it by plow- 

 ing. And there are very few soils that are so 

 rich that they will not be benefited by thorough 

 fertilizing. For this purpose barnyard manure 

 has exceptional value, not only because it sup- 

 plies plant foods, but also because it gives the 

 right texture to the soil. Leaf mold from the 

 woods, if it can be secured, has value for the same 

 reason. 



Nowadays it is well understood that the physical 

 texture of the soil is almost as important as its 

 chemical composition. The roots of the plants 

 require air as well as water, and they will not 

 thrive in a soil that lacks porosity. In the garden 

 the soil is kept porous by constant cultivation, but 

 this is obviously not possible with the lawn ; hence 

 it is especially important that soil for the lawn 

 shall have the right texture before the grass seed 

 is sown. 



SUPPLYING WATER 



The lawn that needs to be protected against an 

 excess of water at one season by a system of 

 drainage may at another season require artificial 

 watering even more imperatively. The question 



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