68 YARD AND flAEDEN 



soil and, if ueressaiy, wlien the root is re- 

 moved, fill up the hole and firm the soil so that 

 the damage done is immediately repaired. 



WEED GRASSES 



Crab-grass is probably the worst and most 

 objectionable weed that attacks lawns. It holds 

 itself so close to the surface of the soil that the 

 blades of the mower very seldom reach it, and, 

 though it is an annual, it resows itself year after 

 year and appears in early August to render 

 almost unsightly any lawn where it has gained 

 a foothold, no matter how persistently the lawn 

 may be tended. It has broad, pale green 

 leaves, and gives a patchy appearance to the 

 general surface of the yard wherein it shows 

 itself. AVhen cold weather approaches, the 

 crab-grass assumes a dead brownish-red color, 

 and lends to the whole area a rusty appearance 

 which very often leads the cultivator to believe 

 that his grass is parched for lack of water. 

 But no amount of watering will overcome the 

 unsightly appearance occasioned by the pres- 

 ence of crab-grass. Only one method of eradi- 

 cating this pest is effective and this is one 

 which is more troublesome than expensive. Ob- 

 tain a steel rake with sharp pointed teeth, and 



