The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-18
BIRMINGHAM'S NEW "CTTY
 BEAUTIFUL" DEP ARTMENT

with top soil, so that at least five inches of good soil will overlay the whole in places and where trees are to be planted there should be twice that depth of soil When the grading is finished if the nature of the soil requires it, drains should be laid where necessary then the whole should be thoroughly plowed subsoil following in the wake of the common blow un- til it is completely pulverized A heavy harrow should then be applied until the surface is thoroughly fined down; all stones, roots, etc, should be re- moved, so that a smooth surface may be obtained.
 For small plots of course digging, trenching and raking must be done in stead of blowing, subsoil and harrow ing, and the surface after sowing should be patted down with the back of a spade rolled with roller FERTILIZING OF LAWN. The question of fertilizers for the lawn is an important one. Perhaps the best method is to apply well rotted stable manure and to spread it thick enough to cover the ground after l blowing or digging and then harrow or rake it in.
 Though a little more costly, the best plan to insure permanency for the lawn is to use from 300 to 2oo0 pounds | of coarse ground bone.
 TOP DRESSING. | When the land has not been fertilized | before sowing it is necessary to use | top dressing of manure each season l to keep up the fertility of the lawn | and nothing is better for this purpose
 than well routed short stable manure
 to spread over it late in the fall (No- vember or December) enough to par tially cover the surface.
 | On no account should fresh manure
 be used or the lawn will be very apl
 to be ruined by the introduction lol weed seeds. | This should remain on until sucf time as the grass shows signs of start ing in the spring, when the rough DOT | tion should be raked off and a heavy roller applied, so that the surface ol the lawn rendered smooth and firm fol the mower.
 If the top dressing of we'll routed stable manure has been omitted in the lfell fine bone dust mixed with finely sifted wood ashes in equal parts may be sown on the lawn about as thick Las sand is usually strewn on the floor iand rolled down. and we advise that ithe lawn be rolled several times during the spring.
 SEEDLINGS FOR LAWN.
 Seed may be sown any time from March to June. If the ground has been well prepared and the weather is not too dry, good lawn will be In evil dence in six to ten weeks time. Under very congenial conditions new lawns are often ready for moving ir six weeks from sowing.
 When seed is sown during the hot months of June and July sprinkline lof oats may be sown at the same time to protect the young grass from tho sun. but water must be used copiousiy
 or failure is likely to result. Lawns art also sown during the fall months (Sep- Itcmber the best) with excellent results Sow the seed on the newly raked ol narrowed surface but do not SOW or a windy day or much of ethe seed vii be lost Also do not SOW the seet when the soil is wet. or much is los during the necessary rolling ana be
 sides the perfect level desirable will b'
 destroyed.
 QUANTITY OF SEED REQUIRED.
 As guide for the proper quantit. of seed required to form perfec lawn, we may state that one quart o grass mixture is sufficient to SOW al
 area of 20 feet by 15 feet-So0 squar feet-or to cover an acre five bushei | will be required.
 It should be borne in mind that Il
 orde rto produce the best results gras
 seed for lawns should be sown thickiy