CONSTRUCTION OF WALKS AND DRIVES 97 



It may be met with in many old gardens, its 

 cheery red surface worn into hollows, but ever 

 dry owing to the porous nature of its material. 

 From this observation we may take a hint, 

 and, if we decide upon a brick path, be careful 

 to obtain bricks of a kind which are not imper- 

 vious to water. They may readily be tested 

 by plunging one into a pail of water and noting 

 the speed with which the surface water disap- 

 pears after it has been lifted out again. In 

 point of cost, brick paths do not compare un- 

 favourably with gravel, but much depends upon 

 the price of each material ruling in the district. 



A rubble foundation is prepared as for a 

 gravel path, and dressed over with finer ma- 

 terial, over which is put a layer of finely 

 screened gravel or builder's sand, which must 

 be raked to a level surface. The good appear- 

 ance of brick paths would be marred if any 

 perceptible camber were given to the surface, 

 but on dead-level ground there may be half 

 an inch difference of level between the sides 

 and centre of a three-foot path. 



The bricks should be laid flat upon the sand 

 without mortar or cement, pressed down firmly 

 and into close contact, and kept in true line 



