ON GARDEN WALKS. 201 



XV.— On Garden Walks. By R. Glendinning, F.H.S., 

 Member of the Royal Agricultural and Botanical Society of 

 Ghent. 



(Communicated May 15, 1852.) 



The comfort and enjoyment of a garden, especially in our moist 

 climate, depend in a great degree upon the condition of its walks ; 

 for unless these are smooth, firm, and dry, they can scarcely be 

 passed over during a large portion of the year except in very fine 

 weather, and rarely indeed by invalids, more especially at those 

 times wlien gardens are most enjoyable, viz. mornings and even- 

 ings, as well as after showers. A main feature in the formation 

 of a garden should therefore be walks so made that they could 

 be walked on in all weathers with comparative comfort. 



la forming walks, the first thing is to determine the position 

 of tlie verges. In doing this it must be kept constantly in view 

 that in nearly every case, whether on level ground, ascending or 

 descending inequalities of surface, the verges at right angles 

 across the walk sliould be on the same level, and for the follow- 

 ing reasons. First, each half of the walk will receive only its 

 due proportion of rain, which tends in so many instances to dis- 

 figure and disturb the surface ; secondly, walks so made will be 

 found more agreeable to walk on than if they had an inclination 

 from one verge to tlie other ; and lastly, by this arrangement 

 the eye of taste will neither be offended nor annoyed. The 

 mind will receive that kind of satisfaction which it derives from 

 looking at a perfect architectural elevation, and to efl^ect this ap- 

 pears to me equally important in matters of gardening as in those 

 of building, especially where the utmost refinement in the art is 

 aimed at. 



The next point to be considered is to make provision for carry- 

 ing off water, and this should be so contrived as to meet the 

 maximum amoiuit of our atmospheric precipitations, particularly 

 where the inclinations are rapid and of great length ; on level 

 surfaces and when the natural soil is loose and friable, this w ill 

 not be so urgent, provided the walks are otherwise properly 

 formed. Tlie best material to use for conveying the water will 

 be the earthenware tubing now so well known everywhere, and 

 of a diameter in proportion to the width of the walk and the 

 length the water may have to run before it is discharged. This 

 will be easily determined by persons accustomed to such mat- 

 ters, or at all acquainted with draining. The most convenient 

 place to lay the tubing will be in the centre of the walk, with 

 communicating tubes to the sides, where square cesspools about 



