16 



GAllDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



for many hours, while in others, after the same amcnnt 

 of rain, the roads will seem firm and comparatively dry. 

 In the former all carriage roads, and even foot-walks, to 

 have any satisfaction from them, should have their foun- 

 dations formed something like that shown in figure 5. 

 This gives thorough drainage for the water at each side, 

 and a depth of from one foot at center to two feet on 

 sides of rubble stone and gravel to form the bed of the 

 road or walk ; but in sandy or gravelly soils, through 

 which the water passes quickly, no such expense is nec- 

 essary, as an equally good road may be made by five or 

 six inches of gravel. In foot-walks on such soils, I have 



Fig. 5,— SECTION OF ROAD WITH DEAIN EACH SIDE. 



found that three or four inches of gravel mixed with one 

 fourth its bulk of cement to ^^bind," when w^atered and 

 w^ell rolled, makes an excellent smooth walk, and one in 

 which, because of its hardness, there is no trouble with 

 weeds. Let me here say, that when weeds are trouble- 

 some on walks, or more particularly in paved gutters, 

 that the quickest way to get rid of them is to sow salt 

 over the surface about as thick as sand is strewed on a 

 floor, and then sprinkle with water. Care must be taken, 

 however, that the salt does not get on the grass or other 

 plants, as, of course, it would be as quickly destructive to 

 these as to the weeds. 



