LAYING OUT THE FLOWER-GARDEX. 21 



as to quality, it should be coarse and lively, containing a due 

 proportion of light sandy loam, to make it bind close and firm 

 at all seasons; but not so redundant in loam or clay as to 

 stick to the feet in wet weather, nor so sandy as to be loose 

 and open in dry weather. 



Ground oyster shells are sometimes used, also granite chips, 

 from a stone-cutter's, which make fine, hard walks ; but these 

 substances are too brilliant for the eye in a sunny day, and on 

 that account are objectionable. A reddish free-stone color has 

 a better effect. 



Agreeably to your design, stake out the width of the walk, 

 and proceed to level the boundary on each side, corresponding 

 with the adjacent ground, and form the cavity of the walk for 

 the reception of the gravel, observing that the whole space, 

 to make a good and permanent walk, should be dug twelve or 

 fifteen inches deep, to allow a proper depth for gravel, to pre- 

 vent the weeds from rising from the ground below, and worms 

 from casting up the earth thereof. The earth dug out from the 

 cavity of the walk may be used to raise and level any hollow 

 parts on each side, or contiguously situated, which, with the 

 edging, if of box, should always be completed before you begin 

 to lay the gravel. 



The walks being thus laid out, you may first lay any stony 

 rubbish, such as broken bricks, small stones, &c., for sev- 

 eral inches deep in the bottom, which w r ill drain off extra 

 moisture, and thereby prevent the surface from becoming mossy 

 or foul ; the proper gravel is then to be laid on, six or eight 

 inches thick. As you proceed in laying, observe to rake off 

 the coarse parts into the bottom, and to raise the middle of the 

 walk higher than the sides, in a gradual rounding form, just 

 as much, and no more, as is sufficient to carry off the wet to 

 each side. 



The proportion to be observed is, a walk of four feet wide 

 should be one and a half inches higher in the middle than at 

 the sides, and for every foot after, that such increases in 

 width, add one fourth of an inch for the centre elevation. 



