4 THE LITTLE GARDEN 



laid down, at least a couple of inches deep, if your general soil 

 is poor in quality or kind. If the good soil is not available, use 

 either natiu-al or artificial fertilizer, though all authorities join 

 in warnings against the former when making a lawn, because 

 of the weed-seeds always present in it. For grass-seed various 

 kinds are mentioned; but Kentucky blue-grass and red-top are 

 prime favorites, mixed, and herd's-grass and Rhode Island bent- 

 grass are also considered good. Never sow in wind, and seed if 

 possible in a time of gentle rains; rake lightly after sowing, and 

 roU. Rolling with an iron or stone roller, after frost is gone in 

 spring, is a thing to be strongly recommended; but many soils 

 require a light roUer. A roller, which is in use so little of the year 

 on a small piece of ground, but which, when needed, is so vital 

 a factor in the ultimate good looks of a place, might be owned 

 jointly by several neighbors, without depriving any one of them 

 of its real benefits. After the grass is well established, weed. And 

 with this word is indicated a sort of perpetual motion on the 

 lawn. Weeds will often seem to be thicker than the grass; weeds 

 have their periods, from the distressing dandelion to the chick- 

 weed and summer-grass or quack-grass; and well do they observe 

 their own times. 



Just here, however, I should like to mention, for a temperate 

 latitude, my own rule for a good lawn. Three or four inches of 

 black earth, with plenty of humus in it, spread over clay — a 

 condition that we had to face when making our places for grass; 

 then the sowing of this top-soil with a seed that was blue-grass 

 and red-top, half and half; after that, the grass being grown, 

 mowing each time in a different direction, that is, first, east to 

 west; next, north to south, continually repeating the process. It 

 may be that this last has not so much effect upon the goodness of 

 the turf as I fancy it has; but the fact is, the lawn is so good that 

 we have not dared depart from the rule. 



