¥ 
24 LITTLE GARDENS 
so that the grass roots may enter iteasily. The turves need beating 
down: and a slight sprinkling of soil is beneficial, for it gets 
washed into the interstices between the turves, thus helping the lawn 
to consolidate more quickly. It is best to use a wooden, flat 
bottomed turf beater ; failing this the turves may be trodden down 
with the feet. If the weather is dry during late March and April 
care must be taken that the lawn does not get dried up; frequent 
watering may be necessary. 
Lawns from Seed.—This is the method most commonly 
employed, and on the whole it may be considered the more satisfac- 
tory. One is very apt to get bad turf, and then the lawn becomes a 
perpetual annoyance; in the end it may have to be dug up and 
sown with grass seed. There is, of course, the danger of buying bad 
seed, but this is more easily guarded against. I know of no way in 
which gardening money can be spent nore unsatisfactorily than in 
buying bad grass seed. Good seed costs but little more, and it is 
impossible to havea nice lawn without it. Next in importance to 
the purchase of good seed comes the preparation of the ground. 
This should be dug at least 12 inches deep, and all coarse weeds 
carefully taken out, by hand if necessary. Unless this be done they 
are certain to reappear after the lawn is sown. The ground ought 
really to be dug a month or two before seed sowing, so that it may 
settle. To prepare for the reception of the seed the surface is carefully 
raked, rough and lumpy soil broken down, and uneven places made 
smooth. Then the roller is passed over to ensure a level surface, 
for once the grass is up, irregularities are far more difficult to put 
right. When ordering grass seed it is best to state the character of 
the soil in one’s garden, and whether the lawn is to be in a sunny or 
shady spot. Seed merchants keep different kinds of grass seeds for 
varying soils and situations, and it is well to be suited in these 
respects. 
Sowing the Seeds.—Grass seeds are sown broadcast, first from 
north to south, then from east to west to make sure that the 
ground is covered as regularly as possible. A calm day shouid be 
chosen for seed sowing, or the seed, which is very light, will be 
blown in all directions. It is not necessary to sprinkle soil over 
the seed, but I think this is the simplest method of covering it 
in a little garden. Anyone skilled in handling the rake would 
use this, simply raking in the seeds lightly. But this work needs 
doing rather carefully, otherwise the even surface will be disturbed, 
some seeds will be buried, and others left exposed. It is quite 
easy to cover the freshly sown seed by means of fine soil sifted 
upon it. If the lawn be a large one this method would be 
impracticable and the rake would be necessary. After the seeds 
are covered a light rolling does good. Very little mowing and plenty 
of rolling are necessary the first season, in fact some Eadcnen 
scarcely cut the grass at all during the first summer. When 3 or 
4 inches high the grass is usually cut with a scythe, as the blades of 
