602 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III, 



559 of flag-stoiics or cast-iron plates on 



a bed of mortar. (Ji<r. 539. ) When 

 this mode is adopted in tlie streets of 

 cities, tlie gas and water pipes (a) 

 may be placed in drains, covered 

 with large blocks of granite (h), 

 channelled on tlie surface to prevent 

 horses from slipping. Access to the 

 pipes might be had by simply lifUng 

 these stones, without disturbing any 

 other part of the pavement, ( Gcard. 

 Mag. vol. V. p. 79.) 



3720. Gx'orge A'mg/it luis 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 pavetl. The improvement has been found considerable ; but as the rain- 

 water sinks to the Macadamized stratum, and cannot run oft' 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. 



3721. Colonel Macirone recommends pressure, " which may be applied in three different 

 stages of the work : first, to harden the ground previously to laying tlie 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 tlie other side in a cluster of smaller ropes or cords, 

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

 Pavioursy 8vo. 1826.) 



3723. Lieutenant Brown suggests " that, after the foundation has been formed in the 

 necessary shi^)e, 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 niortar, and the joints 

 grouted with cement ; the whole mass would thus become a solid bodjy 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 tehich it is to remain, then grouting tlie joint, 

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

 will remain immovable and water-tighty 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 injur}', owing to its porous state ; now, as no water can 

 penetrate beneath the surfiux of this pavement, if properly made, this serious fault is ob> 

 iated." {Quar. Jour. Sdencey Jan. 1 850.). 



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



3723. Milestones of tlic 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 tlie 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, parisli, 

 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 as^stance. 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 ; 

 but the cottage might afford protection to the foot traveller, and a glance at the burial 



