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On sloping land, drainage is not of great importance as water 
soon drains off, but on level land or where tennis courts are being 
formed and a dead level is required thorough drainage is necessary 
before anything else is attempted. On a gravelly subsoil fewer 
drains will be required and in a few cases where the soil is exception- 
ally sandy and gravelly dispensed with altogether, but as a general 
rule surface rubble drains 18" x 18" at intervals of 8ft. should be 
made. The best material for these drains is rough laterite, ashes, or 
stone as large as apples. Any other material that is easily obtain- 
able locally can be used. Broken brick-bats form very good drain- 
age material when procurable. 
When the drains have been filled to within 6 inches of the top 
the various levels of the surface should be taken and marked and the 
whole changkolled over a foot or more deep and as evenly as 
possible. If the soil is of good quality there should be no difficulty in 
doing this or in the after formation. When the soil is poor and 
sandy the addition of some of better quality with the addition of some 
well-rotted cow manure is advisable. 
In low or wet situations, it is sometimes necessary to raise the 
level of the surface. This is best done when the drains are being 
laid. Stiff clayey soil should not be used for this purpose as it pre- 
vents the free passage of surface water to the drains underneath. In 
very wet places it may be necessary to have the drains as close as 
6ft. apart and in such cases when it is desired to raise the level of 
the surface a good plan is to put down a layer of 6" or more of fine 
ashes between and over the drains ; roll well to prevent subsidence in 
places and add a top layer of fine rich earth on which to plant the 
turf. 
The condition of a lawn, court or green throughout the year 
greatly depends on the depth and quality of the soil underneath and as 
the formation of such is generally considered permanent it is import- 
ant that the utmost care is given to its composition. After-results 
will repay any extra care and expense that has been incurred. 
In cases of very poor soil it sometimes pays to trench the entire 
area to the depth of the subsoil adding manure and richer soil and 
removing a corresponding quantity of the original earth. 
Having thus dug the soil all over alike and roughly levelled it, 
it should be left for a few days exposed to the weather in order to 
render it solid and ready to tread down in preparation for seed or 
turf whichever may be chosen to plant. 
Turf is more satisfactory in this country but care must be taken 
in choosing the proper kind. 
Previous to planting, the soil should be tcodden down firm, raked 
lightly over and made as level as possible. Turfs 9" or 12 " square 
should then be planted, not too deeply, regularly at 6" apart over the 
