143 



GRAVEL. 



below, and is removed by sweeping. 

 Gravel, whether consisting of large 

 or small stones, or particles, if laid 

 down when perfectly dry, very 

 seldom can be made to bind ; and, 

 under such circumstances, it forms 

 a rough, moving, and consequently 

 a most disagreeable surface to walk 

 on. A remedy for evils of this kind, 

 which is sometimes successful, is to 

 strew over the walk Roman cement 

 in powder, then to rake it, so as to 

 incorporate the powdered cement 

 with the surface of the ground to 

 the depth of two or three inches, 

 and immediately afterwards to water 

 it thoroughly, and roll it till it 

 becomes quite hard and smooth. 

 This is one of the best modes of 

 forming a permanent and agreeable 

 gravel-walk on a steep slope ; it is 

 also an excellent mode in small 

 gardens, where the object is to save 

 labour in keeping, and to prevent 

 the growth of weeds. Sea-shore 

 gravel, which is generally mixed 

 with sand and shells, can only be 

 rendered firm by this process, or by 

 one which destroys its colour, viz. 

 mixing it with tar or gas liquor. 

 When so mixed, however, it forms a 

 very durable walk, though it is of a 

 dark and disagreeable colour. Next 

 to these modes, the best means is to 

 break a number of small stones, or 

 pebbles, into fragments ; and if this 

 be done with about one-third of the 

 quantity of gravel to be used, and 

 the fragments intimately mixed with 

 the round pebbles, the gravel, when 

 thoroughly rolled with a very heavy- 

 roller, will bind. The finest gravel 

 in the world is composed of the 

 debris of flints, such as the Kensing- 

 ton gravel ; and this kind, which 

 has hitherto been found in only a 

 few parts of England, is sent to every 

 part of the world. 



It must always be remembered, 

 that broken angular pieces of stone, 



whether large or small, will bind 

 much better than round pebbles ; 

 and if with the broken stones be 

 mixed a ferruginous clay, which is 

 generally of a reddish, brownish, or 

 yellowish colour, and the whole be 

 rolled immediately after it is laid 

 down, it will harden by exposure to 

 the atmosphere, and will become 

 quite firm and smooth. If, how- 

 ever, the rolling should be neglected 

 for a few days, the particles of 

 rusty earthy matter will become 

 hardened individually in a loose 

 state; and even if rolled afterwards, 

 they will never become quite firm. 

 It must also be observed, that large 

 and small stones do not bind well 

 together ; and hence all gravel, as 

 soon as it is taken from the pit, 

 should be sifted through a wire 

 screen, the wires of which are only 

 sufficiently wide apart to admit 

 stones of the size of a moderately 

 large gooseberry, and all the larger 

 stones should be thrown on one side 

 to be broken. The gravel that has 

 passed through the screen should 

 then be examined, and if it be found 

 mixed with too much earthy matter, 

 it should be again sifted through a 

 wire sieve, sufficiently fine to allow 

 only the earth to pass through. Part 

 of the earthy matter should then be 

 well mixed with the gravel and 

 broken stones, in the proportion of 

 one-third of each, and the whole 

 should be laid evenly on the walk, 

 and rolled immediately. 



When gravel walks have become 

 loose from time or frequent sweep- 

 ing, or from the gravel being 

 originally of a bad quality, they 

 may be rendered firm by forking 

 them over; and, after raking out 

 the largest of the stones, and break- 

 ing them, mixing the gravel with 

 equal parts of sand and ferruginous 

 clay in a somewhat moist state, 

 rolling the whole as soon as the 



