SCT. III. OF A GARDEN. 35 



good soil to strike into, when they reach the walks 

 they will not (as has been observed) prosper. In 

 laying gravel very thick, it is a good way to do it at 

 two courses ; the first of which may be rough as it 

 conies from the pit, yet still raking the larger parts 

 down, and then ramming or treading.it; and the 

 last course should be of all screened materials. 



It is best to lay a few yards of gravel only at a 

 time, before ramming or treading ; after which it may 

 be necessary to go over it with a fine iron rake, 

 tooth and back ; and then a whole walk being fi- 

 nished, it should be repeatedly pressed with a mo- 

 derately heavy roller ; and again soon after the next 

 rain that falls : so will the walks become nicely level 

 and firm, in which their excellence consists. 



Grass Walks may do where gravel is scarce ; but 

 the latter is so clearly preferable, that except for a 

 little variety in large gardens where there are many 

 walks, grass walks will hardly be made choice of, as 

 they are troublesome to keep in order; and if much 

 used, are apt to get bare, and out of level, especially 

 when narrow ; they are also frequently damp to the 

 feet. 



Camomile has been used also to form green or 

 carpet walks, planting it in sets about nine or ten 

 inches asunder ; which naturally spreading, the run- 

 ners are fixed by walking on them, or rolling. 



Sand may be adopted for walks, and there is a 

 binding sort of it, that does very well ; but lay not 

 any of it too thick, as it is the less firm for it. Drift 

 sand is a good substitute for gravel. 



Coal Ashes strewed thinly in the alleys are better 

 than nothing, as they at least serve to keep the feet 

 dry and clean. If the garden be a -strong soil, 

 these ashes (when worn down) should be thrown out 

 of the walks, with a little of the earth, and will 

 prove a good manure for the quarters. 



