Width of 



drives. 



Cross levels. 



Fencing of 

 steep banks 



DRIVES, AVENUES, AND SERVICE ROADS. 



of ordinary stock bricks looks as well as anything. Where the rush of water is likely 

 to be at all great, either cobbles or brick should be laid in cement, and this is at all 

 times the best method in the former material, as otherwise the numerous joints will 

 grow a crop of weeds, which will involve many hours' labour in the Spring and early 

 Summer. 



The widths of drives must again depend on many circumstances, and do not admit 

 of solution by the application of preconceived dogmatic formulae, but in no case, except 

 where the drive is a mere carriage sweep of a few feet long, should it be less than about 

 twelve feet broad, while for drives over two hundred yards long which are likely to be 

 used constantly, sixteen feet is the best width. It would seem almost unnecessary to 

 state that the same width- should be carefully adhered to throughout the whole length 

 of the drive unless under special circumstances, but observation shows how very few 

 drives do this, giving the whole a ragged effect which no amount of care for the surface 

 or verges can possibly remove. It has already been stated that the width of service 

 roads should be carefully proportioned to that of the main drive. They may be any- 

 thing from eight feet wide upwards, this being the narrowest roadway which will take 

 an ordinary tradesman's cart. 



The whole effect of a well-planned drive may be ruined by neglect of the banks 

 at its sides where there has been interference with the natural levels of the ground. The 

 artistic management of cross levels demands greater attention than is usually bestowed 

 upon it, and this is particularly so where, to insure an easy gradient, the drive follows 

 a winding course through an undulating park, sometimes entailing a deep cutting and 

 at others an equally deep filling, or where it encircles a hill with a cutting on the high 

 side and a fill on the lower. In any of these cases there should be a level verge on 

 either side of the drive at least two and a half feet broad with the bank beyond it 

 arranged in reversed or " O.G." curves to connect with the natural levels (111. Nos. 

 103 and 104) . 



FIG. IO3. 



FIG. 104. 



The protection of drives where there are steep falling banks on one or both sides 

 is often necessary, for horses sometimes become very nervous when passing along them 

 for the first time. A simple horizontal bar about three feet three inches from the ground 

 and supported at intervals of about ten feet by a stout post will provide all that is 

 necessary to give an assurance of safety. 



The planting of the banks of drives and the treatment of their terminations, are 

 referred to in another chapter. 



84 



