26 LAWNS 



the ground. Therefore some mechanical 

 means must be adopted to secure the perfect 

 level. 



The practical way, when there is no en- 

 gineer or landscape architect engaged, is to 

 drive stakes here and there in the ground, 

 and sight from any one to a third stake by 

 balancing a carpenter's level on the top of 

 stake number one. By carrying this out over 

 a series of three stakes in various directions, 

 using each stake in turn as a support for the 

 instrument, a perfect level can be assured. 

 When once a stake has been driven or raised 

 to the requisite height, it should be marked 

 with paint, and it should remain in position 

 until the final steps of the ground preparation 

 are complete. By using a straight edged 

 stiff board that will not sag, balancing it 

 between two stakes, the ground can be brought 

 up or cut down to the requisite level ; and the 

 intervening spaces may be filled in and 

 levelled either by means of working a board 

 over the surface in the same way as plasterers 

 or masons work or by relying on the eye 

 and using a rake. 



Another method is by using the spirit 

 level and theodolite, when stakes can be 



