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BECKERT SEED AND BULB COMPANY 



YOUR LAWN COMES FIRST 



^^^OTHING will add to the appearance and, for that matter, actually 

 ^ enhance the value of your property to such a degree as a well-made 

 well-kept lawn. 



A good lawn, one that will stay green through the drought of mid- 

 summer and maintain a compact, smooth, velvety green surface year in 

 and year out, is easily made providing a little care is taken to get it 

 established right. 



Young grass grows best in cool, damp weather. Consequently the 

 best times to make a lawn are earl\- spring and early fall. 



The ideal lawn soil is a well-drained, moderateh" rich and moderateh" 

 heavy loam. If raw sub-soil has been exposed in grading, cover or re- 

 place it to a depth of 8 inches with top-soil from an old meadow or gar- 

 den. If the soil is too sandy, add manure or prepared humus to act as 

 a binder and moisture holder. If it is stiff clay, add sand or ashes to make 

 it lighter, and manure to make it mellow. Avoid fresh stable manure as 

 it is almost invariabh' full of weed seeds. Puherized Sheep Manure 

 (see inside back cover) is excellent. Do not be sparing of fertilizers at 

 this stage. 



Spade up the soil to a depth of 6 or 8 inches, njixing in the manure or 

 other fertilizer, and then rake the surface as fine and level as possible. 



Sow the seed evenly over the surface. To insure a thick even stand, 

 use plenty of seed; an excessive quantit\" will do no harm. It is a good 

 idea to divide the seed in half and go over the plot twice, making the 

 second sowing at right angles to the first. Then go over the surface with 

 a roller to compact the soil about the seed and sprinkle lightly, using a 

 fine spray. Make the first cutting when the > oung grass is 3 to 4 inches 

 high. Thereafter cut frequently, setting the mower kni\"es so that they 

 will clip at least 2 inches high, so as to leave the roots of the plants 

 shaded. Frequent mowing keeps down weeds, and prevents the grass 

 from going to seed, thus conser\-ing all of its strength for leaf and root 

 growth. 



To keep the sod compact, roll the lawn as soon as the frost is out of the 

 ground in the spring. Frequent rollings throughout the season are very 

 beneficial, but do not use a roller immediately after a heavy rain. 



If the soil contains plent>" of moisture retentive humus, little artificial 

 watering should be required. If it becomes necessar\- to use the hose 

 during the dry spells, an occasional thorough soaking is better than 

 frequent light sprinklings 



