RENOVATING AND IMPROVING OLD HOMES. 101 



2 bu. red-top, and 8 Ibs. of white clover per acre.* But it 

 more often is the case that there are numerous trees and 

 other objects on an old place that prevent this thorough 

 treatment, and the cultivation of the land to the very door- 

 steps, for even one or two years, is not a very pleasant thing 

 to contemplate; therefore some other method of renovation 

 must be resorted to. Under these conditions the surface 

 must be graded by shaving off the projections as far as 

 possible, raising up the turf and filling up under it where 

 there are depressions, or grading over the uneven surface 

 with good soil, so as to present an even and flowing outline. 

 Then grass-seed of the same kind and at the same rate 

 per acre as for the new lawn, i.e., 2 bu. red-top, 2 bu. 

 June-grass, and 8 Ibs. of white clover (the poorer the soil 

 the more seed should be used), should be sown, raked in 

 with a liberal dressing of fine manure, or fertilizer made as 

 follows: 1500 Ibs. of fine-ground bone, 300 Ibs. of muriate 

 of potash, and 200 Ibs. of nitrate of soda or sulphate of 

 ammonia, per acre. Treated in this way, if the grass is 

 frequently cut during the summer, a good lawn may be 

 obtained in two or three years. 



For new seeding the potash and nitrate of soda should be 

 thoroughly worked in with the soil some time before the 

 seed is sown. 



The specially prepared lawn-dressings are equally good 

 in place of the above fertilizers, but more expensive. 



Smoothing Abrupt Slopes and Embankments. 



As far as possible all abrupt slopes and embankments 

 should be graded down into well-rounded and graceful out- 



* See Chapter 111 on Lawns. 



