The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-29

eRAssoLosy-LAwnoLoey.

The Free Press rs acquainted with
a man I'm Mankato VINO asserts with
all the confidence that person
could possess that he knows all
about grassoiogy, the sprinkIing and
maintenance of lawns, the beauti-
flying sf the premises and kindred
things. This man Is happy and con-
tented I'm the thought that he can
make several blades OF grass grow
and thrive where one is wont to
show its faded head above the sur
face of Mother Earth. In view of
the vast amount of knowledge on
lawn building that Is concealed In
this gentieman's dome Of thought,
we hope he will not waste any
time reading the dissertation on how
grass plots and shrubbery should be
given their daily supply OF drink
An expert connected with the agrL
cultural department at Washington
has sent out the suggestions, and
&c Is hoped that those whe are not
sufficiently educated up TO the duty
of tending lawns will profit by their
perusal: -.... CD. -. 90.
Bad watering is the cause of al.
most as many poor lawns as
droughts, according to the landscape
gardener of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture. frequent
watering merely the surface OF the
grass, makes the roots of the grass
grow near the surface, and these
roots should be made to grow down
as deeply as possible in order to
secure q fine lawn that will resist
the hottest weather. OF summer. The
best method of watering the grass
is to apply spray for from SIX
to twelve hours, the stream being
so gentle that water will not collect
I'm sufficient quantities to run on.
The water will then sink down into
the soil and the roots viii grow
to a greater depth. uH-
When this method Is used, the
lawn should not be watered oftener
than twice a. week and then the
ground should be soaked. so that
the water penetrates for several
inches beneath the surface. AS a
general rule, watering once week
is sufficient to keep lawn In good
condition. The man who enjoys
watering his lawn in the evening
for a half hour after returning from
work will probably prefer this method
to leaving the stream on for num-
Der Of hours once week. II he
will divide his lawn area In six
parts and confine his attention TO
a different part each evening, he
will obtain practically the same re-
suits in the long run.
Haphazard watering every even
ing Is not advisable. He should be
careful, also TO use merely gentle
spray, and not continue watering
to such an extent that water runs
OF, as such water does no good.
In fact, II may do harm. for Il
may remove loose dirt from the
grass roots and expose them TO
drought. The strong stream of a
hose should not be used; as II
helps 20 expose the roots unneces,
sarily. Many people wonder why
drought dries up their lawns {. An
July after they have taken What
they consider to- be good care of
them. The combination of hot
winds and dry weather makes judy
undoubtedly the hardest month for
lawns, and when the roots of the
grass are encouraged to grow near
the surface by bad watering, and
the loose dirt is also removed from
them by a hose of strong water
power, the results are more dis
astrous than II the lawn had been
left alone. '-@Fs