MOWING, ROLLING, AND WATERING 45 



of about three inches. But don't be in a hurry 

 over this first trim. Use a scythe by prefer- 

 ence. You will not then cut too close to the 

 roots. Leave the cut grass on the lawn to 

 act as a mulch. 



After the grass has commenced to grow free- 

 ly it may be cut once in ten days, and also 

 rolled. In its first season the grass will not 

 be rooted very firmly and the pulling of the 

 knives of the average lawn mower will not 

 tend to help things along. If a lawn mower 

 is used see to it that the knives are set high, 

 and keep the grass about two inches long all 

 the season. In extreme hot weather the 

 cutting may be lighter; rolling would be of 

 more service. 



The new lawn needs rolling frequently to 

 make the roots as firm as possible, and the 

 heavier the roller, the better. One man 

 cannot be expected to haul a roller heavier 

 than three hundred pounds, but a thou- 

 sand-pound machine would be none too 

 heavy. 



As the fall approaches the mowing machine 

 may be set to cut closer than it was in the 

 summer, but cutting must cease for the year 

 about the middle of September. 



