LAWNS 51 



cation of soil and manure, which has been familiar to 

 cultivators almost since man tilled the soil, should be re- 

 peated so strenuously, but in spite of its familiarity the 

 subject needs, in all seriousness, dwelling on again and 

 again, and year by year, and probably will require it as 

 long as the attempt to make lawns continues to be made. 



The application of the fertilizers should be made, and 

 the ground plowed and harrowed or raked, just before 

 the grass seed is sown, unless the additional precaution 

 is taken, especially on old sod ground, to give the land a 

 coat of manure a year before, and secure its full effect, 

 and also a desirable condition of tilth and destruction 

 of old sod by the cultivation of a potato or corn crop. 

 When the ground is tilled and manured, the choice of the 

 grass seed to be used should be made with the greatest care. 



Notoriously, grass seed is apt to be full of weeds and 

 chaff, and the very best quality is therefore cheap at 

 what may even seem an exorbitant price. It is better 

 to buy the cleanest and best red top or blue grass or 

 bent grass, and either mix or use them alone. They are 

 strong-growing grasses, and will very likely outgrow, in 

 a short time, any more attractive but weaker varieties 

 that the seedmen may wish to mix with them. There is 

 much still to be accomplished in securing vigorous vari- 

 eties of well-known grass seed that will endure drought 

 and shade on both sandy and clay soils. Old fields of 

 meadow land have been found by such investigators as 

 James B. Olcott, of Manchester, Conn., prolific sources of 

 valuable, hardy, and strong-growing varieties of grasses, 

 and the field for discovery in this direction is wide, ex- 

 tending, as it does, from Australia to England. 



The operation of sowing grass seed needs to be done 

 skillfully and carefully, and at a time of the day when 



