62 
HOW TO MAKE HOME 
GRADING. 
Befoie any planting is done the grounds should be 
properly graded. After the rough work is finished, good 
results are obtained in the following manner. Provide 
plenty of stakes and a strong linen cord. Drive a stake in 
each front corner so that the top of each stake is just six 
inches above the proposed grade at that point. Stretch 
the cord across the tops of the grade stakes. A cheap, 
heavy cord will sag or be blown by the wind, while a 
light, strong, linen cord may be drawn so it will not sag. 
Bring the grade to the desired height about the under¬ 
pinning of the buildings. Allow for settle about two 
inches. Roll down. Drive stakes every ten feet, 
around the buildings. Cut a notch in them six inches 
above the finished grade. Drive stakes every ten feet 
along the front line, cutting a notch at the height of the 
line. Stretch a cord from a stake near the building to the 
one opposite it on the street line. Provide every work¬ 
man with a stick six inches in length. With a rake, level 
the lawn so that the soil is just six inches below the line 
as shown by the measuring sticks. Rake off the high 
places and fill up the hollows. Move the line from one set 
of stakes to another until the grading is complete. Roll 
the lawn. This usually shows low places, places which 
may have been graded well but the soil was soft or filled 
beneath and settled more. Rake down high places to fill 
low places and roll again. The lines may be put on 
again to verify the grade. For a perfect lawn continue 
rolling and filling up the depressions until perfectly 
smooth. Then rake it lightly and sow lawn grass seed 
thickly broadcast over the surface. In localities where 
the soil is light or sandy and where seasons may be dry 
and the sun very hot causing the lawn to burn, better 
results may be had by sowing the seed with a seed drill, 
putting the seed three to five inches deep. Good blue 
grass lawns may be had in the South by deep seeding. 
Lawns seeded in this way in good soil do not burn in 
