East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-06-14
MAKING THE LAWN BEAUTIFUL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

used in its application. Five pounds
| OF nitrate Of soda are sufficient for
1000 square feet Of lawn. and II ap-
piled in solution with the watering
pot and the grass then thoroughly
watered with a hose, there Is little
danger OF scalding. Bone meal Is
probably the best commercial fertil-
izer TO use on lawn, considering the
danger from the misuse Of nitrate
OF soda Bone meal can be used
without taking any specla!' caution in
Its application as it is in 10 way in
furious to the grass. Eight pounds
to 1000 square feet is a liberal ap-
plication. Any commercial fertilizer
that Is used should be applied early
In the spring when the grass begins
to grow. In fact, bone meal can be
used to advantage every month during
the growing season. except perhaps
July and August. Fertilizing through
the season is especially beneficial in
keeping the grass stimulated at times
when it would be more or less mac
tive. Pulyerized limestone as a top
dressing is very helpful and an appli-
cation Of this substance can be made
either in the fall, winter or spring
Lime corrects the acidity OF the sur
face OF the soil and is useful in check
Ing the growth Of moss ard various
other plants that are detrimental to
the grass.
Moving, Rolling and Sp-lnkling.
There is no hard and fast rule to
be followed in connection with now
ing the lawn, but clipping twice a
week is not apt to injure Il, and will
induce the formation of a good turf,
according to the lawn specialists OF
4 the U S. department OF agriculture.
Too frequent clipping, however, is a
drain on the vitality of the grass, and
frequently results in permanent in
jury
There is some difference Of opin-
ion as to whether clippings should be
removed after moving. but in general
their removal is advised, especially
AAa ittE WI hFdAnNlr 1AAANt IL ttAk "
lie on the surface they are conducive
to the growth of molda which in
turn produce injury to the turf. on
new seedlings, however, ol where the
grass is thin. clippings can frequently
De allowed to remain with benefit.
New seedlings should not be clipped
closely. and during the not weather
Of midsummer and early fall the
mower should be set high for old
and new grass alike. The roller
should be used discreetly. New grass
is frequently benefited by a light
rolling after the first cutting. Old
sod should be rolled in the spring TO
firm the surface that has been loOs-
ened by freezing and thawing, but
during midseason it is very doubtful
If the lawn should he rolled even
lightly, especially where me soil is Of
heavy nature.
There are probably more mistakes
made in connection with the water
ing of the lawn than in any other
phase of its management The prac-
tice of sprinkling as it is almost uni
yersally followed is fundamentally
wrong, not that the sprinkler does not
furnish enough water to the grass
during the season. but that it does
not furnish 1t in properly distributed
quantities Sprinkling Cor a short
period may appear to wet the sod
thoroughly but in reality the water
does not penetrate much below the
surface. This encourages the forma-
ton of surface roots ami makes the
grass less resistant to the severe con-
ditions of weather and usage.
Except in rare cases, the lawn
should not be watered oftener than
two or three times a week, providing
watering is done properly. A thor
ough soaking is necessary and should
be given in the late afternoon or early
morning. The ordinary type of rev.
diving spray is quite satisfactory, but
the amount of water applied by Il Isl
usually much less than appears. The
point to be borne in mind is that the
ground should be thoroughly satur-
ated at each application ~ at least
three inches in depth