LAWNS WALKS EDGINGS. 49 



No walk should be less than seven feet broad. For 

 terraces a common rule given is, that they should be 

 twice the breadth that the house is high. Though 

 of course it is enough for a " lover's walk " with- 

 out which no country place is perfect to accommo- 

 date a duad, yet, be it in what part of the grounds 

 it may, every path should be broad enough to admit 

 three persons walking abreast. 



Who cannot call to mind many an awkward feel- 

 ing and position where want of breadth in a garden- 

 walk or wood-path has called into play some unsocial 

 precedence or forced into notice some sly predilec- 

 tion? And who likes to be the unfortunate lag- 

 behind the last in a wood ? 



The edging of borders is always a difficult affair 

 to manage well. Box, the commonest, and perhaps 

 the best, is apt to harbour slugs, and get shabby, 

 unless closely attended to. The gentianella, where 

 it nourishes well, is a beautiful edge-flower. Thrift, 

 of which there is a new and handsome variety, was 

 once (like its namesake) much more in vogue than 

 it is now, and deserves to be restored. We have 

 seen very pretty edgings made of dwarf oaks clipped ; 

 nothing could look neater ; but it seemed like rob- 

 bing the forest. Worst of all are large rugged flints, 

 used commonly where they abound, and in small 

 area-gardens. In a symmetrical garden, and where 

 they harmonise with the house, strips of stone-work 

 might be introduced ; and we think that a tile might 

 be designed of better shape and colour than any we 

 have yet seen. 



