The Opelousas courier., 1903-07-04
Making a Pretty Lawn.

Though we call it a front yard, yet,
no difference what its dimensions
great or small-it really is "a lawn.
And if it proves a thing of beauty"
We must give it thought and care in
the first making as well fB afterward.
There are new houses, finished up
late in the fall, that have left the
Illuminating until the spring. TLhre
are now houses going up, Of which the
plat around will soon be calling for
some consideration. Its situation
must be studied, and plans made for
its shape and slope.
Where the lot is a series of depres-
sions and inclined places, much grad
ing and filling in is usually required,
but where it is comparatively level,
the dirt thrown from the cellar and
foundation, with dirt thrown back
from the edges to give the slope, may
be all the extra filling required. Ii
the house stands well In the centre,
the ground looks better to slope even
Iy from all sides of it. A little shift
ing of its own soil to make this may
be all that is required, if the lawn
be a small one. If the lawn is not Of
extra size the grading can be done
by hand, but if very large, it is more
quickly and better done by machinery
made for the purpose.
1t will not do to put poor soil on a
lawn, or to stir its own soil If it be
poor, and leave it in that shape for
the planting Of seed. Poor ground
will not grow lawn gress, especially
the kind that grows thick, low and a
rich green, and under foot feels like
soft velvet plush. That kind requires
a deeply rich soil. Two lawns, side by
side. both equally well cared for, will
shcw a vast difference in looks, be-
cause of difference in the soil.
If the soil used in the making OF the
lawn be of poor quality, 1t should be
mixed to a depth beyond which the
roots reach, with some good fertilizer.
WelI-rotted manure is good for the
purpose were it not for the seeds OF
weeds that spring from it. To avoid
future work in the way of spudding
out stubborn weeds, n had better
invest in bone meal DR. some fertilizer
free of weed seeds.
In getting the soil ready for the
seed 1t must be well pulveriZed with
hoe and rake, and every clod broken,
that the seed may come UP evenly.
All depressions that show after a first
filling should be evened up and pound
ed down firm with a maui. 1t usually
takes two years to get a lawn in good
shape, as heavy rains find soggy places
in the soil and hollow them out. But
after that time it will remain in good
condition for years, with a slight at
tention each spring and fall.
In selecting the seed great care is
necessary. There are mixtures CT
lawn seeds put on the market that are
worthless, and there are statesmen
who will sell you such as good. A mix
ture of grass seeds that makes a low,
spreading growth and stools out well
is the kind wanted. There are deal
ers with a reputation to sustain, who
will sell you the right kind, and tell
you to an inch how much your lawn,
be it large or small, will need of seed.
They will tell you that 1t must be
sown thick. Inquire for such a dealer
before you buy. If you are not an ex-
perienced hand in sowing grass seed,
then get someone to SOW it that is.
Let it get eight or nine inches high
before it gets it's first cutting, and
then it should merely be clipped. To
run the lawn mower often and close
" over new grass is n good way to
XII. it. After the roots are well set
and matted and the grass grows thick
on the ground, it will not require SO
much water to keep it alive. Thick
grass holds moisture around the roots.
and will withstand long dry spells.
Keen a wire rake with which to
take off the cut grass and leaves.
Sharp-toothed rakes tear and loosen
the grass roots. As a thick bed Of
grass draws fertility from the ground
faster than it gives it back, the lawn
must get a dressing Of bone meol at
least twice a year. il you would keep
ND its strength and beauty. In May
or June is the time indicated for the
first dressing, and then again late in
the fall. The SHOWS and rains of win
fer will gradually wash 1t into the
roots.-Indianapolis News.