446 



MECHANICAL. 



the dwelling-house, will be essential, and 

 can readily be effected by the introduction 

 of trees and shrubs at the points indi- 

 cated. 



EOADS AND WALKS, Laying Out.— 

 The guiding principle in designing the 

 position of roads and walks is utility. 

 Nature forms no road. They are the 

 works of men and animals, and would 

 undoubtedly always proceed in straight 

 lines from point to point, if obstructions 

 of various kinds did not interfere and 

 cause deviations. Necessity will there- 

 fore suggest where and how they should 

 be introduced. So far as regards ap- 

 proaches and walks to and from buildings, 

 the object of their introduction is suffi- 

 ciently apparent; but, in laying out 

 pleasure grounds and lawn fronts, it is a 

 common practice to introduce walks for 

 the mere purpose of variety. This is a 

 very questionable reason at the best, and 

 not always successfully accomplished; 

 but even in cases of this kind, they should 

 appear to aim for some definite object, or 

 lead to points of sufficient importance to 

 suggest their utility. 



Unnecessary roads and walks should 

 be carefully avoided. They are expensive 

 in their construction, if properly made, 

 and require constant attention to keep 

 them clean and in repair. Nothing looks 

 so woe-begone and poverty-stricken as a 

 weedy, neglected road to a house, or 

 walks through pleasure grounds or gar- 

 den. They detract much from the beauty 

 of the surroundings, no matter how 

 elaborate or intrinsically worthy they may 

 be. An over-supply of roads and walks 

 is always a serious infliction. 



The bearty of curved lines sometimes 

 prompts to a deviation from the more 

 available direct course; and, where it can 

 be done without too great sacrifice of 

 utility, it is not objectionable. But no 

 walk should be turned from its obvious 

 direct course without an apparently suffi- 

 cient reason. A change of level in the 

 ground, a tree, or a group of plants, or 

 other similar obstruction, will induce, and 

 seemingly demand, a change of line. 



There are many locations where the 

 straight line should be preferred as a 

 matter of taste in design. As a connect- 

 ing link between the strictly horizontal 

 and the perpendicular lines of a building, 

 and the irregular surfaces surrounding it, 



a perfectly straight walk is in the best 

 taste and adds greatly to the effect of the 

 architecture, while a frequently curving 

 walk detracts from it. So also a walk 

 along the side of a straight boundary 

 fence should not curve if both lines are 

 visible at the same time. Most persons 

 are aware of the great beauty of straight 

 walks and avenues of trees; and for pub- 

 lic parks of lesser order, inclosed by 

 formal outlines, they can always be intro- 

 duced with great effect, as well as con- 

 venience, where curving walks would be 

 the reverse. In this case beauty depends 

 upon harmony rather than contrast, and 

 more than either upon utility. 



When roads or walks are carried over 

 irregular surfaces, the natural turns and 

 windings necessary to follow an easy or 

 uniform grade, and keep as near the 

 original surface of the ground as possible, 

 will usually develop pleasing curves. A 

 little studied attention in this matter of 

 the course of a road will not only increase 

 the beauty of curves by adding to them 

 the grace of utility, but also deep and 

 expensive cuttings, as well as heavy em- 

 bankments, will be avoided, and easy 

 grades and economical construction be 

 more certainly secured. 



When it is necessary to branch a sec- 

 ondary road from the main line, it should 

 leave the latter at as nearly a right angle 

 as convenient, and at the same time be 

 somewhat narrower, so that its appear- 

 ance may convey the proper idea of its 

 being subordinate, and so avoid con- 

 fusion and mistake ; otherwise the roads 

 leading to the stable, ice-house, or gar- 

 den, may be mistaken for the road to the 

 mansion. Under no circumstances should 

 walks be made conspicuous in views of 

 natural scenery. If it is essentially neces- 

 sary that a walk should cross a lawn 

 where it would interrupt a continuity of 

 view, and destroy breadth of effect, it 

 should be sunk beneath the line of vision, 

 by placing it in a slight excavation, which 

 may be further assisted by throwing up a 

 small mound on the side nearest the 

 point of view. These expedients, as also 

 that of planting thick groups of low- 

 growing shrubs, will be effective and 

 satisfactory if properly executed. 



In laying out curving roads it is not 

 advisable to closely follow geometrical 

 rules, or to set the curves out to any 



