XIV 
LAWNS AND LAWN-MAKING * 
A WELL-MADE and well-kept piece of greensward 
is a beautiful and pleasing object, restful alike 
to theeyeand body. Itthus has both esthetic 
and practical value, and justifies whatever ex- 
penditure its making and maintenance entail. 
GRASSES FOR THE LAWN 
In selecting the grass the lawn-maker will be lim- 
ited to the fine-leaved, turf-forming species suited to 
his conditions of soil and climate. Adaptability is of 
more importance than color or texture, though these 
must be considered. ‘There is usually more than one 
species adapted to any given conditions. The United 
States may be divided into three general sections, be- 
tween which, however, no definite line can be drawn. 
NORTHERN STATES 
For all this section, extending from the Atlantic 
to the Pacific, with minor exceptions, Kentucky blue- 
grass is the standard for lawn-making. The excep- 
tions are the Atlantic Coast, discussed below, and parts 
of the Great Plains region where rainfall is somewhat 
deficient. In this latter region buffalo-grass and Can- 
ada blue-grass should be carefully tried. Over most 
of the Northern States redtop and the other bent grasses 
”* By Carleton R. Ball, United States Department of Agriculture. 
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