THE LAWN 307 



that the seed will rake in well. Then sow the seed carefully, 

 taking it from the bag or pan in the half-closed hand, and 

 making the best kind of an attempt to sow it evenly. Study 

 the fall of the seed, and correct your method, until you find 

 that you have caught the knack. Go back and forth across 

 the space, sowing in strips as wide as is convenient ; and then 

 when this is done, sow again at right angles. In this way the 

 whole lawn should be evenly sown. 



Rake in the seed now, going over the whole surface with a 

 short-toothed rake. Then with as heavy a roller as you can 

 easily manage, roll the whole surface as you sowed it, going in 

 both directions. 



While waiting for the grass to appear, be watchful. The 

 surface should not be allowed to bake, for then the seedlings 

 cannot come through. Therefore if the soil dries, and no 

 showers come to soften it, hose very carefully at evening, 

 being sure not to wash out the seed. 



The hosing may have to be repeated even after the grass 

 shows, if a drought threatens. Do, not hose daily, for then the 

 grass will not root deeply. But when you do hose, hose 

 thoroughly. This is true of all hosing of the lawn. It is 

 better to water but once every week or ten days, if only the 

 soil is wet to the depth of the loam. 



Parts of the lawn may not take the seed well, or later may 

 die out. Then you will have to seed again. But if the grass 

 is merely thin, it is best to scratch in more seed, using the rake 

 vigorously, rather than to dig up the lawn and begin again. 



When the young grass is growing well, at last comes the 

 time to mow. For the first mowing the machine should be 

 very sharp, for dull blades will often tear the delicate plants 

 out of the ground. Mow regularly as often as the grass re- 

 quires it, never letting it grow so tall that the clippings are 

 noticeable on the lawn. For it is good for the grass if short 



