LAWN FERTILIZERS 387 



The Lawn. The lawn adds much both to the appear- 

 ance and value of the property. Before trees, shrubs, and 

 flowers can be properly arranged a good lawn is necessary. 

 Its construction, therefore, deserves most careful consider- 

 ation. 



In the grading of the lawn one should endeavor to ob- 

 tain good surface drainage. Except in formal work a level 

 lawn should never be produced. It lacks the naturalness 

 and variety that a lawn should possess. In grading a lawn 

 the natural slopes and curves of the land should be pre- 

 served. Nature seldom produces perfectly level surfaces. 



After the general slopes have been established, the land 

 should be re-harrowed and the small, uneven places smoothed 

 off. If the grading is begun in the fall and the land is then 

 allowed to lie over winter, the soil will have become well 

 settled by spring and will be ready for the final grading 

 before seeding and planting. 



A good soil is the first requisite in the construction of a 

 permanent lawn. In changing a grade the top soil should 

 first be carefully removed, the fill or cut made, and the top 

 soil then replaced. After the grades have been established 

 the soil should be thoroughly rolled and the small, uneven 

 spots smoothed off with a hand rake and by a second roll- 

 ing the surface made smooth and even. 



Lawn Fertilizers. If barnyard manure is to be used it 

 should be plowed under or harrowed into the soil. Fresh 

 manure is likely to contain weed seeds and its use should be 

 avoided. 



A commercial fertilizer may be used to advantage after 

 the grass is well started, but it should never be applied at 

 seeding time, as it may injure the young plants that come 

 in contact with it during germination. Commercial fer- 



