reaches the height of 3 to 4 inches, it should be clipped 
lightly so that just the tips are removed. The mower 
blades should be gradually lowered until a height of 
11/, to 2 inches is reached, at which point there should 
be no further lowering of the blades. A long turf on 
new Fall seeding will help eliminate crab grass and 
other weeds. 
RENOVATING AN OLD LAWN—Next to underfertiliza- 
tion, the procedures of raking the lawn stirring the 
soil, and reseeding in the spring, constitute the most 
popular but harmful practices of many lawn growers. 
To these evils may be attributed the failure of many 
lawns. Soil and turf should be disturbed no more than 
necessary, particularly in the Spring, since this opera- 
tion uncovers many dormant weed seeds and places 
them in a favorable position for germination. 
It is a fallacy to attempt to thicken a lawn turf with 
seed alone. Unless the soil is sufficiently supplied with 
plant food elements, the young seedlings wi!l gener- 
ally fail to produce the desired results. It is far better 
to supply the needed fertility as a first measure. Make 
it a point early in the Spring to: 
Clean out the weeds, dead grass, sticks and 
stones. 
Apply lime according to requirements. 
Spread over the area one of the suggested 
complete fertilizers at the rate of 25 to 40 lbs. 
per 1000 sq. ft. 
Top dress with a compost, or Humus, spread- 
ing evenly over the ground !/2 to 14 inch in 
thickness. 
COMPOST—One may economically prepare his own 
top soil by mixing Humus, adding 5 lbs. Sulphate of 
Ammonia, 5 lbs. of Bone Meal to each 100 lbs. of the 
Humus. Add sand if soil is clay, and clay if the soil 
is sand. Spread over the area about !/, to 14 inch in 
thickness. 
Rake or brush top dressing into the soil, seed, rake 
and roll as for a new lawn. 
MAINTENANCE 
Successful maintenance of a lawn depends principally 
upon three things: clipping, fertilizing, and watering. 
CLIPPING—Clipping is injurious to grass but it is 
practiced to improve the appearance. Most lawn 
grasses, bluegrass in particular, do not thrive when 
DOUGHTEN MIXTURES are always value mixtures 
