HOlUTOmnKER 
each 1000 square feet. Mix this thoroughly with the soil, roll and then 
fill the I ow spots, and rake down the high spots. After each rolling, 
rake until the proper grade is obtained, so that there is a general 
slope away from the house for proper drainage. 
While it might appear that this is an exceptional amount of work, at 
the same time, it must be kept in mind that in building a lawn, we 
are building it permanently and proper preparation of the soil will 
save much trouble and expense later on. 
After the soil has been properly prepared, apply a complete plant- 
food. Mix lightly with the top soil and wait a day or so before seeding. 
SEEDING: The best times to seed are in the early spring and from 
the middle of August to the first of October. The latter period is to 
be preferred as the weather conditions are generally more favorable; 
there is not the problem of weeds to contend with, and the grass will 
get an earlier start and be in a better position to withstand the 
hot summer. 
Use only the best seed. A few cents a pound more invested in quality 
seed will come back to you many-fold in a richer, weed-free lawn. 
The dealer whose name appears on the cover of this book will be 
glad to help you choose the kind best suited for your particular 
locality. No one variety of lawn grass is the best; varieties must be 
mixed so as to form a thick turf quickly and permanently. Each type 
in the mixture has certain elements and a combination of these will 
supply what is best for your lawn. Blue grass is hardy and forms the 
basis of most good mixtures. Rye and Red Top grasses are fast 
growing, keeping weeds down while the Blue grass is getting a start. 
White Clover enriches the soil and its nitrogen gathering quality 
helps the other grasses. 
Use 4 to 5 pounds of a good lawn mixture to 1000 sq. ft. 
The seed can either be distributed with machine or by hand. 
In either case it is advisable to distribute the seed in two directions 
—one at right angle to the other. This will lessen the possibility of 
bare spots. After the seed is applied, rake it lightly to cover to a 
depth of about |/g inch and then roll lightly. This rolling is one of 
the most important operations, because it packs the soil just enough 
to prevent it drying out too much and establishes a contact between 
the soil and the seed. 
Use our 
LAWN SEED 
St** 
1: CRASS 
It will pay you to 
sow quality seed— 
yours will De a vel¬ 
vety, weed-free 
lawn. We have 
several varieties; 
prices are surpris¬ 
ingly low for their 
high quality. 
NEW LAWNS 
PREPARING THE SOIL: Prior to the 
preparation of your soil, it is advisable to 
determine the soil reaction. This can be 
done through the use of litmus paper, with 
any of the small kits available, or by mailing 
a small sample of the soil to your State 
Experiment Station. If the soil is strongly 
acid, lime should be applied in sufficient 
quantity to correct this condition, 
if your plot is small, dig it Up to the depth 
of a spade or digging fork; if it is large, 
plough it. The top soil should be from 6 to 
10 inches deep if the subsoil is gravel— 
12 inches, or preferably more, if the subsoil 
is a stiff clay. 
Next, break the soil uniformly into as fine 
particles as possible with a plow or spade; 
then rake it thoroughly with a steel rake 
until the whole surface is even. As this is 
the only time at which humus may be ap¬ 
plied without breaking up the lawn, spread 
on well-rotted manure at the rate of 500 
pounds to each 1000 square feet, or if this 
is not available, use one bale of peat moss 
or some other suitable humus material to 
A fine lawn is a thing of lasting beauty, not 
only in itself, but as the necessary setting 
for flowers and shrubs; without it, no amount 
of planting can achieve the same result. 
The charming velvety green of a well-kept 
lawn reflects the good taste of its owner, 
and at once registers the thought, that the 
property as a whole is well cared for. This 
always adds to its desirability, and enhances 
its realty value. 
This information on lawn making represents 
the opinion of the best authorities on the 
subject and if followed carefully will assure 
a fine lawn for anyone who is willing to 
make the necessary investment of time and 
money. 
