The Making of Paths 



washed down, and thereby entail endless unnecessary 

 labour. Beneath trees also it is often noticed, not only 

 in gardens but also along country road-sides, that the 

 road or walk does not dry up quickly after a shower, and 

 the gravel is there likely to rot, or the walk at that point 

 be objectionable. Such arguments cannot be used against 

 asphalt and concrete walks. The additional expense would 

 not, I think, outweigh the increased advantages ; but on 

 this subject I much prefer that readers should judge for 

 themselves ; and having now pointed out the advantages 

 and disadvantages of the various forms of walks, I will 

 address myself practically to a description of their 

 formation. 



The Construction of a Walk. 



Knowing, as we now do, what qualities should go 

 towards the make-up of a good walk, it behoves us to 

 see how these ends are to be attained. The class of soil 

 to be dealt with has much to do with the method of 

 construction. In a dry soil it will not be necessary to 

 take out so much soil to form the foundation as in a 

 wet soil, where drainage would be impossible without it. 

 Now, the limits and outline of the walk being clearly 

 marked out, excavation should be made to the depth of 

 eighteen inches to two feet. When there is plenty of 

 material, and the expense of labour is not a serious item, 

 I should certainly advise that quite two feet of soil be 

 taken out; for besides thoroughly draining the path, it 

 has also the advantage of keeping drier some at least of 

 the soil skirting the path. When the bottom has been 

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