G02 



PRACTICE OF AGItlCULTl/IlK. 



I'aht III. 



559 



""- <c 





of flag-stones or cast-iron plates on 

 a bed of mortar, (fig. 559*) When 

 this mode is adopted in the streets of 

 cities, the gas and water pipes (a) 

 may be placed in drains, covered 

 with large blocks of granite {!>), 

 channelled on the surface to prevent 

 horses from slipping. Access to the 

 pipes might be hail by simply lifting 

 these stones, without disturbing any 

 other part of the pavement (Card. 

 Ma«. vol. v. p. ~y.) 



3120. George Knight has suggested the idea of placing the paving stones with the broadest 

 surface undermost, on a Macadamized foundation ; and some streets in the metropolis 

 have been so paved. Tlie improvement has been found considerable; but as the rain- 

 water sinks to the .Macadamized stratum, and cannot run off through it for want of 

 drains, the mud still works up to the surface. With adequate under-drainage, or with 

 the stones so compact as that the surface-water would run off instead of running through, 

 this plan would be one of the most perfect which has been suggested. 



372 1 . Colonel Madrons recommends pressure, " which may be applied in three different 

 stages of the work : first, to harden the ground previously to laying the stones ; secondly, 

 to fix and depress them when laid; thirdly, to equalise and perfect a pavement after it 

 has been some time in use, by applying the pressure only on the protuberant parts. The 

 machine he proposes for the above purpose is similar to a pile-driver of the smaller kind ; 

 the weight being drawn up by a rope passing over a single pulley-wheel at the top of 

 the slide shafts, and terminating on the other side in a cluster of smaller ropes or cords, 

 one for each of the six, eight, or ten men employed to work the machine." (Hints to 

 Pamours, 8vo. 18'26.) 



3722. Lieutenant Brown suggests " that, after the foundation has been formed in the 

 necessary shape, and the surface rolled or rammed hard, the paving stones, dressed so 

 as to fit close together, should be laid or set in a thick coat of good mortar, and the joints 

 grouted with cement ; the rvho/e mass would thus become a solid body, and the rain would 

 be effectually prevented from penetrating to the foundation, which would remain dry 

 and firm in the position in which it was originally placed. By bedding the stone in 

 mortar, properly placed in the situation in which it is to remain, then grouting the joint, 

 and allowing it to set hard, without afterwards ramming or disturbing it, the pavement 

 will remain immovable and water-tight, until fairly worn out, and save all the expense of 

 an artificial foundation of Macadamized stones or other matter. A grand objection to 

 a Macadamized pavement, in this and every cold climate is, that a severe frost setting in 

 after wet, does incalculable injury, owing to its porous state ; now, as no water can 

 penetrate beneath the surface of this pavement, if properly made, this serious fault is ob • 

 viated." (Quar. Jour. Science, Jan. 18S0. ). 



Sect. V. Milestones, Guide-posts, and Toll-gates. 



3723. Milestones of the most improved kind are generally formed of durable stone, 

 or cast iron. They ought to have two faces (Jig. 560.) ; one to contain the distance 

 from the metropolis of the country to the stone, and the distance from that stone to the 

 next market town, and village or place; and the other the distance from the extremity 

 of the road to the stone, and from the stone to the next market town, and village or 

 place, in proceeding to the metropolis. On a face on the apex of the stone may be the 

 name of the county and hundred, and on the base, the name of the township, parish, 

 and hamlet or village. In some countries of the Continent, as in Wirtemburg and Bava- 

 ria, a small open area of 10 or 12 feet in diameter is preserved round the milestones; 

 a bench of stone or turf forms a semicircle, in the radius of which is the milestone, and 

 immediately beyond the bench a row of ornamental trees or shrubs. In several places, 

 every milestone is formed in three steps, the lowest 2 feet 6 inches, the next 3 feet 6 

 inches, and the last or top of the milestone 4 feet 6 inches. The use of these steps is, to 

 enable people of different heights, travelling alone, and carrying burthens on their backs 

 or heads, to set down these burthens, rest themselves on the benches, and resume the 

 burthens without assistance. In England such an arrangement is unnecessary ; but 

 various plans have been suggested for rendering milestones interesting : names of 

 benefactors to mankind who lived near ; dates of remarkable events ; monuments, tombs, 

 statues, small burial places, cottages, alehouses, &c. &c. (See Gard. Mag. vol. v.) We 

 should prefer a cottage or a burial place at every milestone, because, as the majority of 

 travellers are on horses or in carriages, they can have little time to peruse milestones ; 

 b'it the cottage might afford protection to the foot traveller, and a glance at. the burial 



