THE LAWN 309 



will live through any drought, and if cut near the surface will 

 simply make two crowns where one was before. They may 

 be sprayed with sulphate of iron (rinse out the sprayer imme- 

 diately after using !) but the remedy is troublesome and not 

 very sure. The best thing to do is to dig the roots out by 

 hand. I know of no patent tool that will do the work so well 

 as a knife used to cut the tap-root several inches under ground. 

 Then pull the plant out. 



Cutting the edges of the lawn should be done a few times a 

 year, yet by careful gardeners is sometimes done too often. 

 The raw edges are not sightly, and if wrongly cut will fre- 

 quently break down. Do not make them perpendicular, as 

 is commonly done. Slant the spade or sod cutter away from 

 you as you make the cut ; then the grass-blades will start 

 on the sloping surface, will make the edge look well, and save 

 you much labor. All straight edges should be cut to a string 

 tightly stretched between stakes. Curves should be cut with 

 great care. Trimming edges may be done with hand shears, 

 but more easily by long-handled shears. 



A good lawn is worth working for, a pleasure at all times, 

 except when it needs cutting. But the cutting of a lawn, 

 like the cultivating of a garden, keeps you very well ac- 

 quainted with your own property, and often warns you of 

 some need which, if neglected, will later mean double labor. 



Review Questions 



1. Explain the value of a deep soil for a lawn. Tell how to pre- 

 pare it for sowing. 



2. When do you advise planting ? 



3. Why should you be careful in buying seed ? 



4. Explain how to sow a lawn. 



5. Why should it be rolled after raking ? Why in spring ? 



6. Tell how to water a lawn. 



7. Tell how to get out dandelions. 



