The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-18
rHn yALIrE or A LAWN.


 That an expanse of smooth green turf surrounding a dwelling is a dis tinct asset adding much to the ap- pearance and therefore to the value of a house is generally admitted, but not frequently we see, after a dwelling costing s500o, s10.000, $20.00O or $S0,- 900 Is erected, that the grounds sur rounding it are left to the tender mercy of some ignorant pretender to grade and put in shape. The educated, intel ligent architects duties end with the completion of the building and very often the contractor is commissioned without any instructions to make the lawn: common consequence is that the beauty of the place may be for ever marred, for this matter requires as much trained intelligence and good taste as the construction of the dwell- ing.
 KINDS OF GRASSES TO USE.
 The character of the turf which is to form the green carpet is the first and most important consideration, for unless this be of the best all the sub sequent labor will be in vain.
 The matter resolves itself into the question: What grasses are the most suitable for forming a perfect lawn The answer is turf forming grasses, which will form a close. interwoven, firm, deep and elastic turf; growing so closely that weeds are unable to obtain a foothold. All bunch grasses" that Is, all grasses that form tussocks, by growing in separate clumps, must be rigidly excluded from any combination grasses for lawn.
 GRASS SEED MIXTURES. There are hundreds of varieties oi grasses but only about 16 of them are suitable for use in making lawn, and a perfect and enduring lawn cannot be made by sowing any single one of these varieties Kentucky blue gras, for in stance, which is something recommend ed for lawns, grows but sparsely dur | ing midsummer, is slow to form a close sward, requiring two years to do that l and losing color in hot weather. A good lawn can only be made by sowing a combination of grasses so arranged | that they arrive at their best during different months of the year, one kint constantly succeeding another so tha perpetual verdure is maintained An other great advantage secured by sow | ing mixtures is that the plant food 1T 1 the soil is made use of to the fulles | extent, because such grasses, having different root formation, some being i shallow rooted and others deep root ed in habit seek their food at d1r ferent levels and treble the usual mum | Der of plants are able to grow on ev l cry square foot of land
 | Thus a close turf is formed whicl takes entire possession Ci the soil eA clusion of all weeds and a perfect~lawr | is produced which is constantly covered with a carpet of living green.
 THE DRAINAGE.
 One of the first conditions of a per feet lawn is that the land be perfect | ly drained either naturally or artifi
 cially. If the subsoil is sand or gravel so the water can quickly pass througf it. then there will be no need of ar
 tificial drains, but if there is stra tum of adhesive clay for subsoi jthen drains are indispensable every II | or 20 feet.
 As the formation of the lawn is tn foundation of all subsequent operation Tt is imperative that it be careful, done, for if badly done at first it can not be changed or altered, unless t, the great detriment of trees or shrub
 that have been planted or flower bed
 or walks that have been laid.
 THE GRADING.
 The first thing to be done is to ge 1 the ground shaped to the desired grade taking care in grading that when hill or rocks are removed, sufficient sub : soil is also removed to be replace'