THE MAKING OF GARDEN ROADS 

 AND PATHS 



THE construction of roads and paths is a very important 

 item in the laying out of a garden, for it depends largely 

 on whether they are made well or badly as to whether they 

 can be used or not in wet weather. Of the many points to 

 consider in connection with the work, one of the most im- 

 portant is drainage. When the ground is naturally well 

 drained, the work is simplified, for there is little necessity 

 for the construction of an elaborate drainage system. Surface 

 water can be easily carried away by catchpits made here and 

 there along the margins, the size and depth being regulated 

 according to requirements. But when the ground is natur- 

 ally heavy and badly drained, it is highly important that a 

 good service of agricultural drains should be laid to prevent 

 the path from becoming waterlogged. In such a case the 

 ground should be excavated to the required depth and be 

 left 2 inches or 3 inches higher in the middle than at the 

 sides. A drain can then be formed along each side, with 

 branches 20 feet or 25 feet apart falling each way from the 

 middle. Connections must also be made between the surface 

 and the side drains for the purpose of carrying surface water 

 away. This is really more important when the road or path 

 is to be used for vehicular traffic than when it is to be wholly 

 for the use of pedestrians, for if such a road is not well 

 drained, it is impossible to keep it in good condition. 



The contour of the ground is another item which has an 

 important bearing upon the construction of roads and paths. 

 When the natural ground is moderately level, or has a slight 

 general slope, the work is more simple than when undulating 

 ground or land with a rapid fall has to be dealt with, for in 

 the one case it may be necessary to reduce hillocks and fill 

 up depressions both for appearance and to ease the road for 

 traffic, while in the latter case steps must be taken to make 

 the road as easy as possible to climb, and also to provide 

 against its being badly washed by heavy storms. When 



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