,184 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



understratum of that depth. And a lawn which is well established 

 on thoroughly trenched soil, will remain, even in midsummer, of 

 a fine dark verdure, when upon the same soil untrenched, every 

 little period of dryness would give a brown and faded look to the 

 turf. 



The most essential point being a deep soil, we need not say that 

 in our estimation, any person about to lay down a permanent lawn, 

 whether of fifty acres or fifty feet square, must provide himself 

 against failure by this groundwork of success. 



Little plats of ground are easily trenched with the spade. 

 Large lawn surfaces are only to be managed (unless expense is not 

 a consideration), with the subsoil plough. With this grand de- 

 veloper of resources, worked by two yoke of oxen, let the whole 

 area to be laid down be thoroughly moved and broken up two feet 

 deep. The autumn or early winter is the best season for perform- 

 ing this, because the surface will have ample time to settle, and 

 take a proper shape before spring. 



After being ploughed, subsoiled and harrowed, let the whole 

 surface be entirely cleared of even the smallest stone. It is quite 

 impossible to mow a lawn well that is not as smooth as ground can 

 be made. Manure, if necessary, should be applied while subsoil- 

 ing. We say, if necessary, for if the land is strong and in good 

 heart, it is not needed. The object in a lawn, it will be remem- 

 bered, is not to obtain a heavy crop of hay, but simply to main- 

 tain perpetual verdure. Rich soil would defeat our object by 

 causing a rank growth and coarse stalks, when we wish a short 

 growth and soft herbage. Let the soil, therefore, be good, but not 

 rich ; depth, and the power of retaining moisture, are the truly 

 needful qualities here. If the land is very light and sandy (the 

 worst naturally), we would advise a mixture of loam or clay ; 

 which indeed subsoiling, when the substratum is heavy, will often 

 most readily effect. 



The soil, thus prepared, lies all winter to mellow and settle, 

 with the kindly influences of the atmosphere and frost upon it. 



As early in the spring, as it is in friable working condition, stir 

 it lightly with the plough and harrow, and make the surface as 

 smooth as possible- -we do not mean level, for if the ground is not 



