GOOD LOAM AND FERTILIZERS
Loam is scarce; that is, good
loam is scarce. To help make up the deficiency,
every one should form a compost heap, and into it pile
leaves, lawn rakings, pieces of sod, and all such matter,
all of which will be reduced in time by decomposition
to the much-desired humus. A small quantity of
this humus, mixed with fairly good loam, will make
good loam of it all, and suitable for sustaining plant
life.
In the fall, when the leaves are falling
from the trees, it is a good idea to gather up from
the gutters the accumulated leaves and put them in
the compost heap. There may be a little expense
and trouble to it, but there is no question as to
the fact that you will be fully repaid when you find
the necessity for some real loam.
Near cities loam of very inferior
quality will cost at least $2 per cubic yard, and
if one has a quantity of leaf-mould, made as suggested,
and will mix it with this loam, a very desirable quality
can be produced. The leaf-mould is the life of
the soil and absolutely essential to satisfactory
results.
SPRING TOP-DRESSING
A lawn that has been properly made
will not suffer if it is not given a yearly dressing,
for it will have sufficient food supply in the ground
to keep it going for years.
Strange as it may seem, many good
lawns have been ruined by being given a heavy application
of manure year after year. When a top-dressing
is necessary on soil that is good, Canada hardwood
ashes and bone meal will supply all the nourishment
that is necessary. Spread the ashes thickly on
the lawn until they show white on the grass, and do
the work preferably before a rain, so that the nourishment
may be washed into the soil.
The Canada hardwood ashes, as usually
found in the market, contain from one to five per
cent. of potash, but to get the results you are looking
for, the ashes should contain from seven to nine per
cent. of potash. In purchasing this fertilizer
in large quantities demand a guaranteed analysis,
otherwise you are liable to get something little better
than what you take out of your stove, and wholly useless
for lawn purposes. There are good ashes on the
market and they can be had if one goes after them
vigorously enough and gives some indication of a knowledge
of what good ashes are.
When it is not possible to get what
you are looking for, I would recommend mixing muriate
of potash with finely sifted loam, and spreading it
broadcast over the grass. This treatment is always
efficacious, as you are absolutely sure of getting
what is necessary for the land.
MANURE TOP-DRESSING
Many prefer to use a top-dressing
of manure, regardless of conditions. It is sure
to bring more or less weeds. If you decide to
use it, however, get the thoroughly decomposed kind,
as this means a minimum of weeds. I do not want
to create the impression that I am trying to belittle
the fertilizing value of manure. I believe in
having a liberal quantity of it incorporated with
the soil when the lawn is made, and I also believe
that on such a soil Canada ashes and bone meal are
very much more suitable to keep it up to pitch than
is a top-dressing of manure.
When manure is used for a top-dressing,
do not get it on too thick, and do not leave it too
long on the grass in the spring. Nothing is to
be gained by either of these mistakes and much killing
out is apt to result.
There was a time, some years ago,
when it was possible to buy sheep manure that was
worth something, but at the present time it is sold
in powder form, and invites a strong suspicion of
adulteration and of containing very much more than
what is being paid for. If it is possible for
you to get good sheep manure, use that by all means.
It is efficient, cleanly, and produces very few weeds.
It is best used at the rate of about a ton to the
acre.
Nitrate of soda is a very vigorous
stimulant and produces quick results. It is economical,
requiring but small quantities to cover large areas.
Spread broadcast, about 175 lbs. to the acre; or, dissolved,
3 lbs. to every 100 gals. of water. The dry application
should be made always before a rainstorm, otherwise
much burning is apt to result to the grass. For
an occasional application it is all right to use this,
but for year-in-and-year-out fertilizer, it should
be alternated with other things.