G R A 



G R A 



Tn respect to the distribution of Gravel walks 

 in pleasure-grounds and gardens, for orna- 

 ment or use, large ones are necessary to pro- 

 ceed immediately parallel to the house, ex- 

 tending eaeh way towards the side districts of 

 the garden and ornamented grounds: according 

 to the former style of gardening, a large walk 

 of this kind was usually extended in a straight 

 line from the front of the habitation along the 



•-middle of the pleasure-ground, sometimes hav- 

 ing crass plats continued on each side, and sonic- 

 times spacious borders furnished with curious 

 shrubs and flowers. But in modem designs 

 these middle walks are rarely admitted, especially 

 in spacious grounds, having nothing in front 

 bevond the parallel habitation-walk, but an open 

 rural grass lawn, free from all intersections of 

 '.valksr&c. However, a good walk closely paral- 

 lel to the house is indispensably necessary, both 

 for ornament and convenience ; and from this, 

 side-walks should branch off, communicating 

 with the other parts of the pleasure- or garden- 

 grounds; one in particular to be extended in a 

 serpentine manner quite round the ground, others 

 leadinc in the same manner through the interior 

 parts, so as to have dry firm walking at all times 

 to every part of the grounu or garden with- 

 out coming upon the grass. 



The dimensions for Gravel-walks, must be 

 regulated according to the extent of ihe grounds 

 or gardens, as from five to twenty feet or more 

 in w^dth ; but all principal walks' should be at 

 least eight or (en feet wide ; and in large grounds 

 or gardens, leading directly from the house, they 

 should be ten, fifteen, or twenty feet wide at least. 

 Where the houses and gardens are very large, 

 the main walks contiguous to the mansion are 

 sometimes made thirty or forty feet wide; the 

 boundaries on each side being sometimes in grass 

 widely extended, and sometimes in borders for 

 flowers and other curious plants, having either 

 narrow verges of grass, or edgings of dwarf-box, 

 or thrift, on the side's of the walks. 



In forming walks of this sort, they should be 

 first staked out to the proper width, and then the 



"boundaries formed, eaeh side of equal level, cor- 

 responding to the adjacent ground; the cavity of 

 the walk for the reception of the Gravel being 

 afterwards made, the whole space being dugout 

 ten or twelve inches deep, to allow for a proper 

 depth of Gravel, both to prevent weeds rising 

 from the ground' below, and worms from cast- 

 ing up the earth ; as also to allow of a proper depth 

 for turning the Gravel occasionally when the 

 surface becomes foul : the earth dug out to 

 f( rm the cavity of the walk, may be used to 

 raise and form the ground on each side, if ne- 

 cessary, which, and the edgings, should always 



be completed before the Gravel is beetm to be 

 laid. 



When the cavity has been thus prepared, any 

 hard rubbishy materials may belaid in the bot- 

 tom, several inches thick ; such as coarse Gravel 

 or ballast, rough stony lime, brick, or other 

 rubbish, which will g-eatly prevent worm-casts, 

 and help to drain the moisture from the top of 

 the walk in wet weather, and in winter preserve 

 a dry surface : the proper Gravel is then to be- 

 laid six or eight inches thick ; in laying, rais- 

 ing the middle higher than the sides, in a gra- 

 dual rounding form ; which is not only neces- 

 sary to throw off the wet, but also to give the 

 walk a more ornamental appearance; the pro- 

 portion to be observed in this is, for a walk of 

 five or six feet width, an inch and a half of 

 rise in the middle ; for one of ten or twelve feet, 

 two and a half inches; and for one of twenty feet, 

 from three to four or five inches; the same pro- 

 portion being regarded in other widths. At every 

 ten or fifteen feet, as the work advances in laying, 

 it is proper to tread, rake, and roll the Gravel 

 down, as it always rolls more firm and smooth 

 whilst fresh stirred ; it is also necessary, for fear 

 of rain, especially in loamy Gravel ; for which 

 reasons more should never be laid in one day 

 than can' be finished off, except the rough laying. 

 The treading should be performed regularly with 

 the feet preTty close, taking short steps ; so as 

 to render every part equally firm, and not to sink 

 in holes under the feet, in the work of raking 

 and rolling. The raking should be performed- 

 regularly lengthways of the walk ; and in the 

 finishing- off or smooth-raking, a wooden-head- 

 ed rake without teeth is most eligible, or the 

 back of any common rake; as by either of these 

 the surface may be rendered mote regular and even- 

 without drawing off the requisite proportion of 

 top pebbles, or raking them into holes or heaps; 

 as the art of smooth-raking is to leave all the 

 proper-sized top stones equally dispersed over 

 the surface. As soon as any part is thus laid 

 and raked, it should be well rolled, both across 

 and lengthways ; and when the whole is laid, a 

 good rolling should be given the whole length, 

 repeating it till the surface is rendered perfectly 

 compact, firm, and smooth; and after the first 

 shower of rain, another good rolling should be 

 given, so as to make it bind like a rock. 

 This method should be practised in all walks 

 made with this material. 



The management afterwards is, occasional 

 weeding, sweeping, and good rolling once or 

 twice a week, especially in the advanced part 

 of spring, and all summer ; and also occasion- 

 ally in Winter, in dry open weather ; and when 

 the surfaces become very foul, or overrun with 



