August, 1908 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



VII 



is a great mistake, as it begins to form stalks 

 which, when cut, give the lawn a coarse ap- 

 pearance; the grass must be cut in the leaf to 

 give the rich, velvety appearance so much 

 admired. 



During the early part of summer, and in 

 fact at all times except in periods of drought, 

 the lawn should be cut every four days at 

 least and a carrier should always accompany 

 the mower. The practise of leaving the grass 

 on the lawn is untidy in the extreme and has 

 really nothing to recommend it except in 

 times of draught, when its presence may be 

 some protection to the roots of the grass. 

 When the grass is left on the ground it is 

 impossible to do as good work as the falling 

 grass hides the sod and it is impossible to tell 

 whether the machine has made a clean cut or 

 not. The rake can not be depended upon to 

 take the place of the carrier. It gathers up 

 the grass, to be sure, but it leaves the lawn 

 rough and unsightly. It may precede the use 

 of the machine to advantage, but should never 

 follow it. 



Another important tool in the care of the 

 lawn is the lawn or grass shears. The use 

 of these should always precede that of the 

 machine. All borders of walks, of beds and 

 foundation walls and fences should be care- 

 fully trimmed and the clippings raked up and 

 removed before the machine starts to run. It 

 is the general practise to cut all that can be 

 cut with the machine and then to trim the 

 remainder with the shears, but the result is 

 much better if the shears and rake are used 

 first, then a perfectly trimmed lawn results. 

 In using the shears they should be held level 

 with the ground and the grass trimmed as close 

 and even as possible, cutting a line three or 

 four inches in width. 



The tall grass around the boles of trees or 

 about the hitching posts should receive atten- 

 tion. Indeed, there should not be allowed a 

 spear of grass above the level of the lawn 

 anywhere within its confines if a well 

 groomed lawn is to result. 



In running the lawn mower it will be 

 economical of time and result in smoother 

 w T ork if those sections of the lawn which can 

 best be handled together be blocked out and 

 cut separately. It will be well to run around 

 all flower beds on the lawn first so as to have 

 straight -work ahead of one, and then com- 

 mence and go round and round the square 

 blocked out rather than back and forth, as 

 in this manner the machine is running in the 

 same direction all the time and leaving smooth 

 cuts, while in going back and forth the grass 

 is turned in one direction on one run and in 

 the opposite direction the next, leaving, al- 

 ways, a rough ridge between a very noticeable 

 line. The cuts should be well lapped or more 

 or less grass is liable to be skipped — about 

 one-third the width of the cut will be none 

 too much to lap. 



The machine must he carefully adjusted at 

 all times and it must be watched and at the 

 least indication of bad work be examined 

 for the cause. In some machines the reel 

 works loose very rapidly and needs constant 

 attention. The knives in the reel should be 

 set close enough to the cutting knife to cut a 

 single blade of grass at any point on its edge. 



The machine will need oiling frequently 

 during the cutting of the lawn. It must not 

 be supposed that oiling at the beginning of 

 work will keep the machine working easily 

 and smoothly unless the lawn is very small. 



The machine should be set to cut rather 

 closely during the greater part of the season, 

 but in dry weather it will be well to leave 

 more grass standing and during a severe 

 drought it may be well to give over cutting 

 the grass at all or to leave the grass on the 

 ground when cut. 



The beauty of the lawn will depend in a 



THIS STAMP, EVERY GENUINE 



:»:HrtitildilLYffWil 



HAS ITT 



The success of Cortright Metal Shingles has 



induced certain unscrupulous manufacturers to place 

 upon the market imitations so nearly like the original 

 in appearance that even architects may be deceived. 

 The similarity" is in appearance only, however, not 

 in quality, and to protect ourselves and our friends 

 we are stamping every shingle as shown. When 

 you specify Cortright Metal Shingles remember 

 about the stamp, and be sure it's there ; then no 

 dissatisfaction can ever arise. 



56-page illustrated booklet free on request 



CORTRIGHT METAL ROOFING CO 



PHILADELPHIA AND CHICAGO 



A Greenhouse Suggestion 



Just for example, let us assume that you want a house for cut flowers, one for 

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 you a freedom from repairs. Let us talk it over with you. 



H1TCHINGS & COMPANY 



1 1 70 BROADWAY, NEW., YORK 



CARPENTERS 



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