28o 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
April, 1911 
Quality 
Lawn 
“PENNSYLVANIA” 
Q“ a/ *A Lawn Mowers 
ARE always sharp, because they have crucible 
** tool-steel blades, hardened and tempered 
in oil. The kind of steel used in making all 
high-grade cutting tools. No other Mowers use 
this grade of steel; that is why “Pennsylvania” 
Quality Mowers have been in a class by 
themselves for 35 years. 
If you want an actual self-sharpening Mower, that will do 
thoroughly first-class work almost indefinitely, without the 
constant expense of re-grinding, ask your hardware dealer or 
seedsman to show you one of the “Pennsylvania" makes. 
P. O. Box 1582, Philadelphia 
SUPPLEE HARDWARE COMPANY 
SENT FREE 
“The Lawn- Its Making 
and Care,” has been 
written for us by a prom¬ 
inent authority. Itj is 
helpful to all interested 
in lawns. Gladly mailed 
on request. 
All cement, brick and stucco exteriors need 
PETRIFAX Cement Coating 
Without it, rain and dampness are sure to penetrate, causing 
damage and unsanitary conditions. 
Petrifax waterproofs the exterior. It consists of a mineral base, 
which is carried into the pores of the cement by a volatile liquid, 
which evaporates quickly, leaving a hard, yet elastic surface that will 
not crack, chip nor peel, even under climatic changes. To cement and 
stucco it gives a uniform and pleasing color that these materials them¬ 
selves never have, and without destroying their texture. Let us tell 
you more about this successful waterp-oof coating. We are always 
glad to answer questions. Ask for booklet. 
Dexter Brothers Co. 
Makers of Dexter Brothers’ English Shingle Stains, 
AGENTS—H. M. Hooker Co.. Chicago; John D. S. Potts, 
218 Race St., Phila. ; E. B. Totten. Security Bldg., St. 
Louis; Robt. L. Greene Co., Baltimore ; Carolina Port¬ 
land Cement Co., Birmingham and Montgomery, Ala., 
Jacksonsville, Fla., Charleston, S. C., New Orleans, La., 
and Atlanta, Ga. ; C. M. Brockett Cement Co., Kansas 
City, Mo. : Sherman Kimball, San Francisco, Calif. ; F. S. 
Combs, Halifax, N. S., AND DEALERS. 
Be sure 
the word 
PETRIFAX 
and our 
name 
are on 
every 
barrel, 
a deep-soil lawn the roots are well down, 
and the only way to have the water reach 
them is to let it run from a hose lying on 
the grass, for hours at a time. Any one 
having a pretty lawn-sprinkler may not be¬ 
lieve this, but it can be easily proved. In 
cases where the soil on the lawn is shal¬ 
low the roots, being high, may be reached 
by the sprinkler process, but it is a good 
rule to follow with the open hose. As a 
little test try the following: In a dry time, 
after the sprinkler has been working over 
hours, dig up a small piece of the lawn and 
test the depth to which the moisture has 
penetrated. You will find that it has gone 
down but a few inches, and the next day’s 
sun will take up all this water in a couple 
of hours. 
In using fertilizer great care should be 
used not to overdo it. If you have a 
deep soil that is rich in humus, you will 
need but little in the way of fertilizers. 
An application of Canada hard-wood 
ashes in the spring will be all that is nec¬ 
essary to help the soil and give color to 
the grass. The ashes sweeten the soil 
while stimulating the growth of the grass. 
In buying these ashes insist on having a 
guaranteed amount of potash. Otherwise 
you may get as low as a half of one per 
cent., and in some cases you cannot find 
a trace of potash. The potash is what 
you want for the soil. 
Nitrate of soda, applied in liquid form, 
produces quick results. Use it before a 
rain in the dry form — about 175 pounds 
to the acre, or dissolved, three pounds to 
100 gallons of water. As said above, fer¬ 
tilizers are not necessary for many years 
if a lawn has been properly made, but the 
inducements to use them are so convinc¬ 
ing that a large amount of money can be 
thrown away in just this way. 
Garden Tools That Pay Their 
Way 
(Continued from page 255) 
never put them away soiled and wet. 
Keep the cutting edges sharp! There is 
as much pleasure in trying to run a dull 
lawnmower as in working with a rusty, 
battered hoe. Have an extra handle in 
stock in case of accident; they are not ex¬ 
pensive. In selecting hand tools, always 
pick out those with handles in which the 
grain doesn’t run out at the point where 
there will be much strain in using the tool. 
I11 rakes, hoes, etc., get the types with fer¬ 
rules and shank one continuous piece, so 
as not to be annoyed with loose heads. 
Spend a few cents to send for some im¬ 
plement catalogues. They will well repay 
careful perusal, even if you do not order 
this year. In these days of advertising, 
the commercial catalogue often contains 
matter of great worth, in the gathering and 
presentation of which no expense has been 
spared. 
As a final word to the intending pur¬ 
chaser of garden tools, I would say, first, 
thoroughly investigate the different sorts 
available and when buying, don’t forget 
(Continued on page 282) 
In writing to advertisers please mention House and Garden. 
