LAWNS AND GRASS PLOTS 13 



During the winter dig a few holes, 2 feet deep, at 

 intervals over the proposed site ; if water accumulates 

 in stagnant pools at the bottom of the holes, it is evident 

 that steps must be taken to rid the ground of its super- 

 fluous moisture. Good lawns cannot be expected on 

 undrained clays or on land which is sour and bog-like. 

 As the actual laying of pipes can only be undertaken by 

 a practical man, well versed in such matters, it will be 

 unnecessary to describe the exact process. The work 

 should be put in hand early, as owing to subsequent 

 sinking of the soil it is unwise to turf or sow newly 

 drained land until six months have elapsed. The size of 

 the pipes will depend in some measure upon the rainfall 

 of the district, but, as a rule, 2-inch pipes are suitable 

 for the smaller drains and 3-inch for the main which 

 carries the water away to the outlet. It is not necessary 

 to lay them at any great depth, 18 inches at the upper 

 end with a fall of 6 inches, making 2 feet deep at the 

 main, being sufficient. If the smaller drains are laid in 

 rows 15 feet apart, entering the main or larger pipe at 

 an acute angle, surplus moisture will quickly pass away. 

 As grasses are surface rooting plants, deep digging is 

 not needed. Providing that the soil is stirred to a depth 

 of 12 inches, and that all large stones are removed, the 

 demands of the roots even in the driest summers will be 

 amply met. Too great stress cannot be laid upon the 

 need for absolute uniformity in all preparatory work •, 

 by that I mean that ground intended for a lawn shall be 

 stirred to an even depth throughout, and that the suc- 

 cessive layers of soil shall be of precisely the same 

 character in all parts. It often happens that when 

 levelling up uneven ground, material is brought from 

 other parts of the garden to fill existing hollows, or that 

 the top-soil is stripped from the higher ground and used 

 for raising the slopes. Hundreds of lawns have been 

 spoilt in this way, and their owners are at a loss to 



