GARDEN PATHS. 



GARDEN PATHS. 



good plan to make the trench deeper, and 

 to lay faggots or brushwood in the bottom 

 as recommended for roadmaking, before 

 throwing in the rough rubbish. The 

 faggoting not only furnishes a firm and 

 desirable foundation for the pathway, but 

 it also helps to drain the ground on either 

 side of the walk, carrying it off to the 

 lowest part, if the walk slopes from 

 higher ground to lower. 



Solid Facing. In some cases it may 

 be desirable to have a solid facing to 

 a garden walk, so that it may be im- 

 pervious to rain, and in this case it is of 

 importance that the surface of the walk 

 should be rounded higher in the centre 

 and sloping down on either side. The 

 water will escape into the earth or turf 

 by which the walk is bordered, or, if 

 desired, a gutter can be formed to carry 

 the water to a tank made for its re- 

 ception in some part of the garden. The 

 gutter may be moulded in the material of 

 which the path is made, or it may be con- 

 structed below the surface, like a drain, 

 and hidden from view. In this case, 

 gratings should be inserted along the edge 

 of the path at intervals, to allow of the 

 escape of the water into the gutter. 



Asphalte for Surface. In making a 

 path with a solid surface, resort may be 

 had to one or other of three different 

 kinds, namely, asphalte paving, tar paving, 

 and concrete paving. Asphalte pavement 

 consists of a surface of asphalte or 

 bitumen, brought to a semi-fluid condition 

 by means of heat, and spread over a con- 

 crete bed. Such a pavement as tbis 

 requires special plant and special skill 

 in its construction, and should not be 

 entrusted to men who are unaccustomed 

 to the work. 



Tar Pavement. Tar pavement may be 

 easily laid by ordinary labourers, although 

 it is better to leave even this to practised 

 hands. The surface of the walk must be 



skimmed off to the deptn of 3 or 4 inches, 

 and the new surface thus exposed should 

 be consolidated by beating. Some thick 

 coal tar must now be poured over a heap 

 of shingle or coarse grave/, and the whole 

 worked together with a spade or crooked 

 fork until the gravel is thoroughly im- 

 pregnated with the tar. 1 his composition 

 must be spread over the beaten surface 

 and rolled down with a heavy roller. 

 Another mixture must now be made of 

 tar and finer gravel, or sifted ashes from 

 the dustbin, and a thin layer spread over 

 the layer of rougher stuff first put on. 

 Fine sand or gravel must then be sprinkled 

 freely over the top of this, and the whole 

 once more rolled with the roller. This 

 material forms an excellent walk, but 

 if laid down in a situation that is fully 

 exposed to the sun's rays, it is apt to 

 " give " in summer-time. 



Concrete Pavements. Concrete pave- 

 ment is put down in the following manner : 

 The earth is first removed from the surface 

 of the path to the depth of 8 or 9 inches, 

 and the shallow trench thus made is filled 

 up to about two-thirds or three-fourths of 

 its whole depth with stones, broken brick- 

 bats, and coarse gravel, well rammed 

 together, so as to present a level surface. 

 Portland cement must now be mixed in a 

 tub with water, until it is of the consistence 

 of thick cream or custard, and poured over 

 the gravel. This must be spread about 

 with a bass broom to level the surface, 

 and send it into the interstices of the first 

 rough coat of stones and gravel. On this 

 a coating of Portland cement and gravel, 

 mixed with water, must be spread, bringing 

 the surface very nearly up to the height of 

 the path; and when this has hardened, % 

 finishing coat must be put on, composed 

 of clean, sharp sand and Portland cement 

 in equal parts, and brought, when mixed 

 with water, to the consistence of mortar. 

 The surface must be rounded and brought 



