Strolling through the Yard this morning, Flyby noticed what appeared to be many, many dark brown nuggets of feces strewn all over the grass—almost as if a flock of migrating geese had decided that John Harvard's turf was ideal for defecating on, and then took to spreading the joy through the Yard in nice, straight lines.

But really: was the tractor rampaging through the Yard simply carrying out another organic fertilization, or did President Faust decide that the colorful chairs need some New England farmland-style company?

Read Yard Ops' explanation after the jump.

Who needs a ride? Anyone?

Zak Gingo, director of facilities maintenance and operations for the FAS Office of Physical Resources, said the machine is actually a "ground aerator," which "pulls out little plugs of dirt" in order to allow air and water to get to the roots of the grass. The clumps will break down and be reabsorbed into the lawn in short time, he said.

Alright, we'll take that.