52 LAWNS 



But watering, when it becomes necessary on 

 account of excessive drought, should be at- 

 tended to independently of the weather. Of 

 course there will be some loss from surface 

 evaporation, if watering be done on a dry hot 

 soil while the sun is still brightly shining, 

 but it is an infinitesimal fraction and not 

 worth serious consideration, and the bene- 

 fit done to the grass will far offset any such 

 loss. 



THE FALLACY OF SPRINKLING 



Too often, because it is easier in the after 

 years of the lawn's existence, the only atten- 

 tion it gets, other than occasional mowing, 

 is watering; and this watering is generally 

 accomplished in the most haphazard and 

 laziest form imaginable. Surface sprinkling 

 is responsible for more ultimate damage to 

 otherwise good lawns than most people, per- 

 haps, imagine. It is a very common practice to 

 connect the sprinkler to the water stand-pipe, 

 place it in the middle of the lawn, and let the 

 water play for a few hours, of an evening. It 

 looks so pretty with the jets of fine spray glist- 

 ening in the evening sun! It makes a great 



