THE LAWN. 23 



more excuse for tall grass " going to hay" in the door 

 yard than there would be for cobwebs taking possession of 

 the rooms inside the dwelling. We occasionally see some 

 parsimonious individual, even now, who remembers that 

 in his grandfather's days, grass was allowed to grow for 

 the food of the "critters," and he leaves it for food for 

 his "critters" still. Though at the same time his furniture 

 inside, that nobody but himself ever sees, or has an op- 

 portunity to admire, for such men are not troubled with 

 friends, may have cost him $5,000 or $10,000. We have 

 two or three notable examples of this kind in my imme- 

 diate neighborhood, but it is gratifying to know that 

 such neighbors are not numerous, for the example of 

 the majority will soon shame them into decency. To 

 have a lawn in first rate condition, the ground must be 

 put in order in the way described under the heads of 

 te Draining" and " Preparation of the Soil," for if these 

 are necessary anywhere, they are still more necessary for 

 the lawn, the soil of which should be as thoroughly pul- 

 verized and enriched by manure, as any ground intended 

 for the cultivation of either vegetables or fruits. 



Great care must be taken to have the surface of the 

 ground for the lawn, (unless a very large one), made 

 perfectly level, for if this is not done before the lawn 

 is sown, it cannot be altered but at great expense 

 and inconvenience. After the surface is made level 

 roughly, it should be further smoothed with the rake, 

 and all stones of any considerable size removed, so that 

 the surface will be smooth for the action of the lawn- 

 mower. Wherever the extent of the lawn does not ex- 

 ceed 2,500 square feet, and where sods can be obtained 

 from a suitable pasture near at hand without much cost, 

 the best way to make the lawn is to sod it, but before 

 doing so, the ground should be rolled or beaten down, 

 particularly if any portion of it has been filled in, so that 

 there may be no " settling " to form hollows or inequali- 



