82 MANUAL OF GARDENING 
thrust underground (there are good spuds manufactured for 
this purpose, Figs. 108 to 111). If the sod is very thin after 
the weeds are removed, sow more grass seed. 
The mowing. 
The mowing of the lawn should begin as soon as the grass is 
tall enough in the spring and continue at the necessary intervals 
throughout the summer. The most frequent mowings are 
needed early in the season, when the grass is growing rapidly. 
If it is mown frequently — say once or twice a week — in the 
periods of most vigorous growth, it will not be necessary to 
rake off the mowings. In fact, it is preferable to leave the 
grass on the lawn, to be driven into the surface by the rains 
and to afford a mulch. It is only when the lawn has been neg- 
lected and the grass has got so high that it becomes unsightly 
on the lawn, or when the growth is unusually luxurious, that 
it is necessary to take it off. In dry weather care should be 
taken not to mow the lawn any more than absolutely necessary. 
The grass should be rather long when it goes into the winter. 
In the last two months of open weather the grass makes small 
growth, and it tends to lop down and to cover the surface 
densely, which it should be allowed to do. 
Fall treatment. 
As arule, it is not necessary to rake all the leaves off lawns in 
the fall. They afford an excellent mulch, and in the autumn 
months the leaves on the lawn are among the most attractive 
features of the landscape. The leaves generally blow off after 
a time, and if the place has been constructed with an open center 
and heavily planted sides, the leaves will be caught in these 
masses of trees and shrubs and there afford an excellent mulch. 
The ideal landscape planting, therefore, takes care of itself to 
a very large extent. It is bad economy to burn the leaves, 
