The Making of Paths 



hard gravel, loose gravel, ashes, concrete, or asphalt. We 

 will endeavour to lay down impartially the special advan- 

 tages possessed by each. Hard gravel is formed by the 

 judicious admixture of sand to the stone, and as long as 

 the right proportion is used all is well, but it often hap- 

 pens that there is more sand than is necessary to bind it, 

 with the disastrous result that during wet weather the walk 

 becomes one layer of thick, sticky mud, which is trampled 

 throughout the house, over the lawns, and makes a large 

 increase of work for every one on the place, besides in 

 time rotting the path. This is, of course, wrong, and 

 must be speedily remedied. The fault, however, does not 

 always lie directly with the one responsible for the making 

 of the path, for the gravel is often sold with a far too 

 liberal proportion of sand. Now a hard, firm walk, such 

 as is in most cases the ideal one, must have just sufficient 

 sand with which to bind it, and not lose its firmness on the 

 first shower. That such a path is within the range of prac- 

 ticability is beyond all dispute, as is abundantly testified 

 by the many well-formed walks found in private gardens 

 and public parks. As to the pleasure of walking upon 

 such a path, I think there can be no two opinions on the 

 matter; and if we except the grass walk, which does not 

 here concern us, I think that a thoroughly well-formed 

 and well-kept firm gravel path must bear the palm for per- 

 fection when compared with others. Loose gravel walks 

 are often seen, not only around large mansions, but even 

 around the villa residences now springing up about our 

 towns. They usually look pretty. They are easily hoed. 

 But are they easily swept ? Are not the stones likely to be 

 kicked on to the grass to come into contact with the mower 

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