Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-22
MAKING THE LAWN
By JOHN BARTRAM

Lawns may be made either by seeding
OF soddng The gain of time in laying
turf is really very slight and the results
are not so good as when the lawn Is
seeded Sods separate in dry weather and
the grasses are usually coarse and hardly
ever uniform
The lawn should be carefully made in
the beginning A carelessly made lawn
runs out in a season or two instead
of gaining in smoothness and turfiness.
Consult a reliable local scotsman, who
will know what blend of seed will go best
on your soil. If some portions OF the
ground are shady. or sandy, or noticeably
''stiff, provide special seed for the stu
atlons. Don't hesitate to use plenty of
seed in the beginning. Thick sprinkling
saves money later.
Careful preparation is necessary for
permanent results. The soil should bo
thoroughly pulverized to depth of 6 TO
8 inches. III there is a stiff subsoil this
should be broken, but not brought to the
surface. In the case Of an extensive lawn
1t will pay to have the ground plowed and
narrowed. a small plot should be spaded
thoroughly and raked fine, and to n uni
form surface Breaknge of the subsoil in-
Eures underdrainage, so that surface and
rain water will go down through the top
soil keeping the roots moIstened but pre-
venting both saturation and drying out.
The depth Indicated insures deep roofing,
so that the fibrous underground will be
less susceptible TO drouth or heat in sum-
rner or freezing in winter.
The soil should be thoroughly enriched
before planting. II the lawn has been
prepared by the builders about new
house, be sure the ground s dug over and
plenty of fertilizer dug in, for more often
than not. the earth from excavations has
been spread as top SOIL and it is time
wasted to attempt to build lawn on this
surface. If It is stiff and elayey. work in
some sand. ton TO plot so by 20 or 80
feet (cost s1.75 per toni.
What is known as load" OF manure.
the contents of n tail cart. should be
spread over each 1000 square feet of sur
face before plowing or spading and should
be Incorporated TO the depth stated. The
price per load Is 81 to s1.25. A we'll
known horticulturist advises 10 TO 20 tons
per acre in building n new lawn The
lower figure l think enough for any aver
age soil. This would mean, for a smaller
plot. one ton for one-tenth of an acre, or
approximately 44a4 square feet For easy
reckoning, calculate two pounds to a
square foot Of your space.
This manure for spring use in new
lawn must be completely rotted. It should
be six months old. The larger quantity
Go tons per aere) would be proper to
spread in fall and plow under in the
spring In the case OF a new lawn.
A supplementary dressing OF rough
ground bone meal should also be used
q the rate OF one ton per acre, or 20
pounds for space 436 square feet.
Stable manure Is likely 10 contain many
weed seeds, and some persons object to II |
on this account They can use powdered |
sheep manurel In the proportions pre-
seribed for bone meal and used in con-
junction with II.
-ur1a arfa M hal
prescribed can be used as fall or early /
spring dressings for lawns already In |
grass. TO replenish exhausted nutrlents |
N application OF hardwood ashes is bens- /
dcial 10 lawns old or new, but sprinkle |
these very lightly. II is wise 70 avoid /
eArnyard manure on a lawn where there
= good stand Of grass. A good COM
ptned fertilizer Is made OF equal pFopor-
tons Of bone meal. sheep manure and
Wood ashes. This should be applied in
such wise as to give the lawn a light
Erayish appearance. This can be put on /
eltherf before the grass begins to appear
q = couple OF weeks later. After 4 rain,
.hen the ground Is no longer soggy. roll
he dressing in.
For stimulation Of the grass give IL a
aressing. az fortnightly intervals In April
zna May. Of nitrate OF soda. one ounce
water
heeeutly a new and very good fertilizer
aas heep put on the market in the form
z hanaus. or natural organic matter,
'Eeated with other plant foods IN acces-
'iale form, This has tue advantages Of
- scgfchlng smotherins or oyer-feeding
Hf 4fo1th Aanr persons. however. pre-
r 4ie elder ray of making or freshening
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