20 MAINE AGRICULTUR-\L EXPERIMEXT STATIOX. 



it is to leave it rough and uneven. Arrange, if possible, to have 

 a few inches of good loam on the surface when the grading is 

 completed, and in any case, make a liberal application of well 

 rotted stable manure. After thorough preparation and raking 

 with a hand rake, seed ver}- thickly, using three to five bushels 

 of seed per acre. After the seed is sown, roll and if late in the 

 season, or the soil is ver}- dry, mulch with chafif or fine manure 

 or leaf mould. Keep the grass closely clipped during the sum- 

 mer. In this way only can the weeds be kept down and a thick 

 velvety turf be formed. In the latter part of the season it is well 

 to let the grass become longer, for the double purpose of 

 strengthening the roots and of ser\-ing as a mulch during the 

 winter. 



The best grasses for a lawn are Kentucky blue grass and 

 red top, with a slight admixture of white clover on hea^w soils. 

 Rhode Island bent is also a valuable grass for heavy clay soils. 

 On a sandy loam, Kentuck}- blue grass alone will be found as 

 satisfactory as an}-thing. 



As to the care of the lawn but little need be said. In the 

 spring it is well to rake oft dead leaves and roll the ground, but 

 the practice of burning over the lawn is not to be recommended. 

 A lawn mower is necessarv' to insure good results, but a ver}"- 

 good machme can be procured for $5, and the labor of mowing 

 in this wa}^ is verj^ light. 



THE FLOWER GARDEX. 



While, as a rule, better results may be obtained for the same 

 expenditure of time and labor by using shrubs and perennials, 

 the old fashioned flower garden of our grandmothers is not out 

 of place on the farm. In many cases the taste — or lack of taste 

 — of the occupants of a home are here most vividly portrayed. I 

 go to one place and the blaze of color is enough to blind one. 

 Red reigns supreme! Geraniums, salvias and coleus vie with 

 hollyhocks, phlox and poppies in the effort to dazzle the be- 

 holder, while possibly nasturtiums and zinnias endeavor to add 

 color to the scene. 



A neighbor may be of a simny nature ; in which case the yel- 

 lows predominate. Buttercups, marigolds and sunflowers hold 

 sway. Perhaps to please an odd fancy, yelloAV sweet sultan 



