Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-19

A bit Of smooth turf is ornamental and use
full, attractive to the eye. and an adornment and
advantage to every household. Few farmers
have time to ornament one very extensively,
but, as the American Cuhipdtor says, a good
lawn can be made at comparatively little ex-
pense and can be kept in good order even with
out the aid Of lawn mower. In the first
place. one should learn that it is poor taste to
plant fower-beds directly in front of the house.
They give much better effect if planted at one
side and little in the rear. Have the yard In
front Of the residence smooth plane Of grass,
with few neat shrubs or trees scattered irreg-
ularly upon it, Make no pretensiOn to geOmet-
rica forms in walks or fower-beds. Trees look
best in the yard if not set in regular rows. If
thus SET one vacancy or one Unlocking tree
will spoil the effect of the whole row. The sim
pier and more natural the arrangement the more
pleasant the effect.
It Is not difficult to make a good lawn In the
first place, good foundation should be pro-
vded for the grass. Though this is the most
important. yet this is the part usually neglected.
The ground should be made rich and level even
If it occupies two or three years. Plow it up,
harrow and rake it over carefully. manure well,
and manage to have the whole thoroughly sub
dued. This done. SOW a very liberal quantity
OF grass seed. and SOW it by itself. 1t will do
just as well, or better, than if sown with oats or
wheat; under such q practice no old stubble
the rate of bushel or more to the acre. The
more the better, for the sooner the sod will be
grown. 1t does not pay to sod the yard unless
one is in hurry for the lawn. Sodding is ex-
pensive. The borders Of the walks may be
sodded, however. The sods should be cut about
ten or twelve inches wide and rolled up from
beneath with spade Ten or fifteen feet OF sod
may be rolled up into one roll. and it can be I'M
rolled again on the border.
Sod is usually cut too thick. An inch and a
half is thick enough. When the sod is laid it
should be pounded down as much as possible
A very heavy block Of wood with a handle is
good for rammng down the sod, and the latter
will be much more apt to grow if well attended
to In this respect. The sod borders should be
lower than the surrounding lawn, for the
loose soil back of them will be sure to settle an
inch or more. If the sod is cut thin and well
laid, it will be almost sure to grow well. June
grass sod is best for a lawn. This is the same
as that sold under the name of Kentucky blue
grass. Timothy and orchard grass are not
good for lawns, as they form clumps and soon
make tine ground uneven.
light dressing of fine and well-rolled ma
nure every spring is desirable. It is useless to
apply manure when the ground is frozen, as it
is usually washed away before the ground thaws
out. The lawn once made, the grass should be
cut frequently. This can be nicely done with a
sharp scythe. The Oftener the grass is moved
the sitter and more even the sod will become,
and the more the grass will tiller out. lawn
prepared and kept in this manner is not expen-
sive. Children soon become interested in work
of adornment, and will keep the yard clear OF
rubbish, and the flower beds. if there be any. in
good order. Such work Is an educator and an
element of refinement.
A flower garden or q fountain is by no means
essential to a beautiful lawn. Indeed, they
often mar it's best effect. Too few in number of
ornaments on a beautiful sod is better than too
many. Two or three small neat patches of
flowers at one side contrast nicely with the
sward. Too many look crowded It is best to
raise only the well-tried and hardy garden
flowers. Three or four kinds are better than
twenty. The farmer should learn that simple
ornamentatiOn is not expensive. A simple neat
arrangement is cheaper and more pleasing than