77 



equal parts of lime, sand, and road-scrapings of any kind, may be substituted 

 with pretty good effect. In all cases, rolling is essential to keep the whole 

 firm and smooth ; and this, if done in summer, will be best effected a few 

 hours after rain. In most cases, rolling in thy weather loosens the gravel, 

 rather than otherwise ; therefore, at times, it will be necessary to have recourse 

 to watering. I consider it a very important feature, in pleasure grounds, to 

 have the walks firm and smooth, and quite free from loose gravel, — an evil 

 much too prevalent. It is, indeed, too common a practice to hoe and rake 

 the walks; whereas, if they are hand- weeded properly, (the weeds being on 

 no account allowed to seed), and kept firm by rolling, the labour soon 

 becomes trifling, in comparison with the slovenly and expensive practice just 

 named. Hoeing and raking, by the way, never leave an easy, smooth, walking 

 path. Deep edges to the walk sides must be carefully avoided. They should 

 never at any time show a greater depth, from the top of the turf to the gravel, 

 than one inch; neither should the edges ever wear the earthy appearance 

 occasioned by cutting with the edging-iron, or spade, except more than, 

 perhaps, once a year, to keep the walks to their true form and width ; as it is 

 quite possible to have them kept very even, and with the greatest neatness, 

 with proper grass shears. 



Where walks are formed on the sides of hills, they are liable to be damp ; 

 drains, therefore, should be formed on the upper side of the walks, and 

 parallel with them (figure 18, a). Grates should be placed at proper distances, 

 close to the walks, with receptacles to catch the sand and refuse which are 

 carried from the walk sides by the top-water 

 caused by heavy rains. (Figure 19.) Each 

 of these receptacles should be about fifteen 

 or eighteen inches square, and about a foot 

 deeper than the drain which is to take off 

 the water from it, (figure 19, a), in order 

 that the sand may lodge below the mouth 

 of the drain. They must, also, be fre- 

 quently cleared out, so that the drain may not fill up. The drains which 

 branch from the sump-hole, or depot, may be taken to the drain in the middle 

 of the walk, or to a principal drain elsewhere; or, in the absence of such 

 principal drains, a suitable cess-pool may be formed at a little distance. 



Figure 19. 



