180 . OUNAMENTAL GARDEKlKCt. 



One of the best possible remedies for the common 

 trouble of having grass verges walked upon in private 

 and public grounds, is to place the walks just where they 

 are needed, and whether curved or otherwise, let them 

 run as directly from point to point as possible, and then 

 to make them of a material comfortable to the foot. It 

 may be stated, however, that should this bad practice be 

 persisted in, a protector made like a croquet arch, only 

 much heavier and larger, and set either lengthwise, or at 

 short distances apart crosswise, along the edge, will effect- 

 ually break it up. 



In figures 24 and 25 it may be observed that the curves 

 are so direct, graceful, and easy, that there would be no 

 inducement to leave them, for gaining a more direct route 

 from point to point. The drive in figure 25 is curved 

 considerably towards the house it is true, but it is used 

 chiefly for carriages, and under the circumstances this is 

 allowable. 



A walk or drive of serpentine form, like the one on the 

 right-hand side of figure 27, is very faulty. Any series 

 of bends closely together like these, showing two bays or 

 projections of about the same size, from any one point 

 are poor in effect. Every curve should be continuous, 

 and easy to be kept by pedestrian or horse. If the bends 

 are too short, the projections of drives are sure to be 

 shaved by wheels, while weeds will spring up in their 

 inner portions. 



While, as a rule, walks should never be put down ex- 

 cept where there is a real or apparent need of them, still 

 it is sometimes the case that they may be made to serve 

 largely for adornment. Figure 28 shows a case of this 

 kind of a small garden of square outlines, lying adjacent 

 to a large public building. The plat is skirted in its 

 border by a belt of trees and shrubs, and a conspicuous 

 circular bed of evergreens occupies a central position. 

 This simple arrangement of neat, well-kept walks, cut 



