The Delta independent., 1908-08-07
SUMMER CARE OF THE LAWN.

The surroundings of the home gener-
ally indicate the artistic ability, or lack
of it, of the dweller. The picture of
the home is spread upon the canvas
of the lawn, and we unconsciously size
up the dweller by his success in pre-
senting this picture to us. In this en-
deavor the care of the lawn plays an
important part.
Leaving, at present, the question of
planting the lawn for consideration at
another time. the following hints re-
garding care of lawns may be helpful;
Lawns in Colorado are best watered
with the hose if water supply of that
character is available. One of the
many styles of sprinklers attached to
the end of the hose is desirable as
! time-saver. If there is no hydrant,
the lawn should be flooded every ten
cur meanwhile. The water in this case
should not be allowed to stay on for a
great while, especially if there is much
shade, or the grass roots will be de-
stroyed wholly or in part and yellow
spots will appear here and there on the
sward. OF whatever character it is,
thorough watering best follows imme-
| diately after moving.
Ordinarily the lawn should be gone
over every week or ten days with the
lawn mower, the shorter period being
| better where the water supply is con-
| stant. The appearance of the sward is
greatly improved by observing the fol-
lowing points: First. the use of the
grass catcher" attachment to the
machine for the removal of the cut
grass; second, moving in straight
lines, and so far as possible in the
same direction; third, tapping the ma
chine only one-half the width of the
| swath; fourth, trimming out with
sickle and sheep-shears all the grass
which cannot be reached with the
mower. The following comments may
be made upon the preceding state
ments. In the use of the apron or
catcher" it should be remembered
that the removal of the grass at every
moving means the removal of fertility
which should be restored by late fall
manuring, but the velvety appearance
which we so much admire is secured
better than by letting the grass lie
where it falls. From a new lawn, how
ever, i. e., one planted in the currant
season, the grass should not be re-
moved, but allowed to lie where it falls
for its value as a mulch. The direction
of the moving should be alternated in
successive mowings, preferably at
right angles to the previous moving.
Trees, buildings, etc, are left by the
machine with an unsightly fringe of
tall grass, which a little extra time
with the sickle and scissors will vastly
improve. The sward about bed or
border should end in an abrupt edge
and this edge trimmed with the shears
Pushing the soil back towards the mid
die of the bed gives the edge it's desir-
able abruptness. Walks should be
similarly edged.
While moving high and low places
and holes should be noted for subse-
quent correction. The man with the
mower learns one reason why terraces
and abrupt banks are undesirable.
When these are run over by the mower
the knives bite 30 deeply that these
high points become "sore spots" due
to the killing out of the too closely
shorn grass. Holes may be filled with
prepared soil tgarden loan and sand in
equal parts) and the grass will shortly
come up through it. Probably the cor
rection of high and low areas may bet
ter be deferred until spring. Such cor
rections involve the lifting of the sod
and the addition or removal of soil
Occasionally high places may be cor
rected by the use Of heavy roller.
Attention to such minute details as
above described insure that we'll
groomcd appearance to lawns which
everyone admires.
LESLIE +. PAUL..
Colorado Agricultural College.