CHAPTER II 



Lawns and Grass Plots 



THE lawn furnishes the setting for a house, and if it is trim, smooth 

 and of a healthy green, will add the finishing touch to an attrac- 

 tive home which no amount of planting can give. Wide spread- 

 ing slopes or level terraces of turf are the delight of many of the simplest 

 and stateliest residences. Neat lawns are ever the sign of thrifty people. 



The main difficulty generally is that too frequently the surface is 

 cut by meaningless and inappropriate beds. Such beds, in large lawns, 

 sometimes detract from the feeling of repose, and in small lawns the 

 beds may often be left out with advantage. Trees and shrubs which 

 are arranged haphazard and thickly about a lawn are also objectionable*. 

 Many a home yard is utterly spoiled by this spotty appearance. The 

 suggestion is to let the lawn stand for a feature by itself, and to arrange 

 the trees, shrubs and flowers at the margins. In many cases no better 

 effect can be gained than by allowing the cool green lawn to run direct- 

 ly up to the brick or brown stone houses. 



In establishing a new lawn it should always be remembered that 

 the first preparation is the important one; it should remain for years 

 before being dug up again. If the soil is a heavy clay, it must be 

 drained, for the grasses most used in lawns do not tolerate "wet feet." 

 If grading has been done, soil which was at the surface must be pro- 

 yided for a surface layer, because subsoil does not contain the proper 

 organisms for good growth. If top soil is not obtainable, it is better 

 to seed for a year- with Peas and Oats which should be spaded or plowed 

 under when in juicy growth. Any soil will benefit by an application of 

 well decayed manure. Fresh manure contains weed seeds and will 

 always prove troublesome. Besides manure, there is nothing better 

 than ground bonemeal. This will continue to supply the beneficial 

 food substances for a great length of time. Before the seed is sown, 

 the soil must be raked very smoothly and the stones removed. It 

 should be firm and perfectly level, for every hollow will show later. A 

 little rolling will compact the soil just enough for seeding. 



SEED MIXTURES. No one variety of lawn grass is the best. In 

 order to get results we must not depend on one grass alone, but must 

 so mix our varieties that a thick turf is formed not only quickly, but 

 permanently. Some grasses live but a year, and require an annual re- 

 sowing. Cheap mixtures contain some of these. It is interesting to 



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