GARDEN PATHS 



Each has its proper and appointed place, as, for instance, 

 that flags of stone are proper by a balustrade where 

 are also stone jars to hold flowers and stone seats 

 arranged. And brick, which of all the others I most 

 prefer, as it is more warm to look at and helps the 

 garden by its rich colour, is good in intimate small gar- 

 dens as well as in big, and gives a feeling of cosiness to old- 

 fashioned borders, and is nice near to the house, and is 

 good to set tubs for trees on, or tubs filled with gay 

 flowers. Of grass paths, in that they are soft and inviting, 

 I like them well enough, but they are wet underfoot after 

 rain and dew, and need a deal of care and trimming ; but 

 in such cases as small set gardens with queer-shaped beds 

 and low Box borders, I mean bulb gardens, to be after- 

 wards used for carpet bedding or for a show of some one 

 thing, as Begonias, or Zinnias, or Carnations, they are 

 without equal. They should be kept very precious, and 

 well free of weeds, otherwise their beauty is gone and 

 they have a lack-lustre air, very uncomfortable. As for 

 gravel, it is a good thing in place where the ground is low 

 and moist, for it will remain dry better than anything 

 if it is properly rolled and well made. Often it is not 

 properly curved and drained, and Moss and weeds collect 

 at the sides, whereby your garden will seem unkempt 

 and dull. Indeed the garden paths are of supreme im- 

 portance to the appearance of your garden, as if they be 

 left dirty, or covered with leaves or moss they will spoil 

 all the neat brightness of the flowers, and are apt to look 

 like an unbrushed coat on a man otherwise well dressed. 

 This is especially the case with broad paths and drives. 

 How often one has judged of a gardener by the appear- 

 ance of his drive ! The first glance from the gate up the 

 drive will give you a fair guess at the gardener and his 

 methods, and you can tell at once if he be a man of decent 

 and tidy habits, or a man to leave odd corners dirty and 



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