

1O2 THE SMALL COUNTRY PLACE 



If the surface is fairly level and June grasses or other 

 good lawn grasses are already growing, dressing with 

 manure or fertilizers, seeding liberally fall and spring, 

 and frequent cutting with the lawn-mower will often 

 produce a very good lawn. Of the home supply of fer- 

 tilizers, poultry droppings and wood ashes make an 

 almost ideal dressing for the lawn. 



Lawn-Mowers and Their Care. 



With the ordinary grass scythe, well hung and skil- 

 fully and frequently used, one may keep a lawn in fairly 

 good condition, but where there is a considerable surface 

 to go over, the lawn-mower becomes a necessity to keep 

 a lawn in the best of order. These tools may be pur- 

 chased at from $4 to $10 each, according to size and 

 make, and when properly used and cared for may be 

 made to last a lifetime. The modem lawn-mowers are 

 made so that as the blades come in contact with the 

 shoe or "bed knife," the two wear off together and are 

 thus self-sharpening. If the set screws for adjusting the 

 shoe and blades are set very nicely and as wear takes 

 place are slightly turned down, no further sharpening 

 need be done unless the blades or bed knife are bent or 

 dulled by striking stones or other hard substances. Much 

 of the ease of running and cutting with the lawn-mower 

 depends upon this adjustment and in keeping all parts 

 cleaned and well oiled. The modern high wheel, ball- 

 bearing machines run more easily than those of older 

 patterns, but neither will work easily unless perfectly 

 adjusted and well oiled. 



Flowers Upon The Lawn. 



While the flower garden may not add directly to the 

 support of the family upon the farm, like ornamental 

 trees and the fruit garden they help brighten many a 



