WALKS AND ROADS. 89 



bottom of trenches on 



each side, as shown by '°" " " j,,^ 



the accompanymg sketch. v ^-ct.^. ^ 



Four inches thickness of "' 



gravel on a road thus pre- 

 pared will, with proper care, make an excellent road. On clay, 

 roads can be made with no more additional preparation than to 

 provide for a few more inches of gravel. Fig. 20 shows a suitable 

 form for such a roadway. Of course the grades of the roads 

 lengthwise must be such as to carry the water in the gutters and 

 drains to proper outlets. We suggest this method of road-making 

 for those sections of the country where stone is costly, and for 

 those improvers who cannot afford to use a large amount of money 

 in road foundations. 



The main thing to secure good walks or roads is constatit care. 

 Weeds and grass must be kept from encroaching by the use of the 

 hoe and edging-spade ; the gravel must be kept in place by the use 

 of the rake and roller. No thoroughness of construction will make 

 such care needless, and by it the least expensive walks and roads 

 may be kept in excellent condition at small cost. 



Solid stone flagging, if neatly dressed, is of course preferable 

 for walks to gravel, and will be used where it can be afforded. 

 Where the asphaltum or coal-tar composition, now used with great 

 success for walks in the Central Park, can be put down by some 

 one thoroughly conversant with the mode of doing it well, it will 

 be found a very fine material ; but while green it involves much 

 risk to carpets. Where the soil is clay, and good gravel or com- 

 position not easily obtained, (as in many parts of the western 

 states,) and flagging is too expensive, seasoned white pine board 

 or plank walks may be substituted. These, if carefully laid, (across 

 the line of the walk,) and the edges sawed to the requisite curves 

 or straight lines, make very comfortable walks. The main dif- 

 ficulty is to find mechanics who will have skill and patience to put 

 them down in the graceful curved lines that are desired. Inch 

 lumber, daubed on the under side with hot coal-tar to postpone 

 rotting, will answer very well for walks from two to three feet 

 wide. For wider ones two-inch plank is recommended. 



