82 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



thrust underground (there are good spuds manufactured for 

 this purpose, Figs. 108 to 111). If the sod is very thin after 

 the weeds are removed, sow more grass seed. 



The mowing. 



The mowing of the lawn should begin as soon as the grass is 

 tall enough in the spring and continue at the necessary intervals 

 throughout the summer. The most frequent mowings are 

 needed early in the season, when the grass is growing rapidly. 

 If it is mown frequently — say once or twice a week — in the 

 periods of most vigorous growth, it will not be necessary to 

 rake off the mowings. In fact, it is preferable to leave the 

 grass on the lawn, to be driven into the surface by the rains 

 and to afford a mulch. It is only when the lawn has been neg- 

 lected and the grass has got so high that it becomes unsightly 

 on the lawn, or when the growth is unusually luxurious, that 

 it is necessary to take it off. In dry weather care should be 

 taken not to mow the lawn any more than absolutely necessary. 

 The grass should be rather long when it goes into the winter. 

 In the last two months of open weather the grass makes small 

 growth, and it tends to lop down and to cover the surface 

 densely, which it should be allowed to do. 



Fall treatment. 



As a rule, it is not necessary to rake all the leaves off lawns in 

 the fall. They afford an excellent mulch, and in the autumn 

 months the leaves on the lawn are among the most attractive 

 features of the landscape. The leaves generally blow off after 

 a time, and if the place has been constructed with an open center 

 and heavily planted sides, the leaves will be caught in these 

 masses of trees and shrubs and there afford an excellent mulch. 

 The ideal landscape planting, therefore, takes care of itself to 

 a very large extent. It is bad economy to burn the leaves, 



