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Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Lawn

Planting the Lawn.-Lawn grass seed may be sowed either in the spring or fall depending upon the climate, nature of the soil and other conditions. If the soil is not protected by snow in winter, so that the seed bed is liable to washing from rains and upheaval from alternate frosts and thaws, it will be found better to prepare a fresh seed bed for spring planting. The chief objection to this plan is the liability to delay from unfavorable soil conditions in spring, especially in clay land or other wet or heavy soils.

This difficulty may be overcome by good under-drainage, and by fall plowing or other previous cultivation, to bring the land into a good state of tilth. If the ground is broken in the fall the first crop of weeds will come up early in the spring and may be turned under when preparing the seed bed. Keep down weeds which spring up later by frequent clipping with the lawn mower. They will soon be killed out by the growing stand of grass, particularly if • white clover is added as a nurse crop.

Plant the lawn as early in the spring as the soil is dry enough to work properly and there is enough heat to germinate the seed and bring along the crop. If the planting is too late, the tender young plants will be injured by the heat and drouth of summer. In the northern half of the United States, fall planting may be done from the latter part of August to October according to location. In the South the best time for fall planting comes later and that for spring planting earlier, according to climatic conditions. Maintenance of the Lawn. - Close clipping will eradicate most weeds except those having broad, flat heads such as plantain, dandelion and dock.

These must be cut out by the use of a knife or trowel. A short-handled asparagus knife is suitable for this purpose. But if dandelions or dock come up in great numbers, it is often cheaper to plow and remake the lawn.

Fertilization. - The basis of a good lawn is to bring the seed bed into a proper state of tilth by the liberal application of well rotted barnyard manure, bone phosphate, lime or green manuring, as above suggested.

A winter mulch of well rotted stable manure will lessen the danger from alternate frosts and thaws and enrich the soil. Apply a light covering in the late fall and rake off the coarse residue when the grass starts in the spring. Or if the grass clippings are allowed to remain on the lawns they serve much the same purpose.

As a rule fertilizers should be applied to lawns in the fall. A good plan for a small lawn is a three year rotation of a complete commercial fertilizer the first year, followed by ground bone the next two years and so continued. But any of the standard fertilizing materials may be employed. These have the advantage over stable manure that they contain no weed seeds.

Nitrate of soda scattered over the lawn at the rate of 100 pounds per acre in the spring will stimulate its growth and give it a richer color.

This should be done after the grass begins to grow and just before a rain or sprinkling. Or the nitrate may be dissolved in water and sprinkled upon the lawn. Later applications at the rate of 50 pounds to the acre will help to keep the lawn green during the heated summer. An application of well slaked lime scattered broadcast, at the rate of 500 to 1,000 pounds to the acre, will be found beneficial on some soils. On those especially which are sour, as shown by the presence of sorrel or those which have a tendency to bake and crack as clays, or heavy clay loams, the use of lime is indicated. Lime tends to favor such desirable grasses as blue grass and white clover.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN "God Almighty," says Bacon, "first planted a garden eastward in Eden and walked there in the cool of the day." And there can be no purer nor more wholesome pleasure than that which the gardener enjoys when observing the growth of plants and flowers. Not only is gardening a source of the liveliest and most unfailing delight. If properly conducted, it is an educational process of the greatest value. A good flower garden exerts a powerful influence upon the æsthetic side of the home life. The home vegetable garden also contributes to the health and physical well being of the family and is, moreover, an important measure of economy.