I'nK (.'an'adian Hoktk ulturisi. 53 



.M.\KI.\(i (;RA\ I.I. WALKS. 



,HERE new walks are to be made, it is ini[Kjrtant that they should 

 be made with due regard to their surroundings. If they are to be 

 intended for vehicles as well as walking on, as is generally the case 

 in the main walks in large gardens and pleasaunces, a greater 

 depth of soil than would be necessary in the case of walks for 

 I)edestrians, should be dug out, to admit of a greater thickness of 

 liard material being laid in the bottom for drainage, and to sustain the harder 

 traffic. The first point to determine when making a walk, after the line of direc- 

 tion has been decided upon, is the width that it shall be made. Main walks 

 should be from ten to eighteen feet in width, according to the extent of the 

 grounds,the others being from five to seven feetwide. Thisdone, due regard should 

 be paid to the level of the ground on either side of the walk, as well as the direc 

 tion in which it is proposed to take the surface- water. A depth of from nine to 

 eighteen inches, will, in a general way, be ample for walks of the dimensions 

 mentioned above, but in cases where the top-.soil is shallow, and resting on a 

 substratum of chalk, gravel or stone, all that is necessary is to remove the top- 

 soil, and with which the ground on either side the walk can be made level, 

 together with the filling up of any depressions that may happen to be close by. 

 Whatever edging be used, turf, box. flints, heather, etc., it should be laid before 

 the bottoming of the walk is proceeded with. The bottom of the walks should 

 ' Ije deeper at the sides than in the middle, that is, it should be slightly arched or 

 convex, so as to convey the surface-water to the sides. If the substratum be 

 chalk, it should be well pounded all over, allowing sutificient fall (longitudinally) 

 to the points towards which it is decided to drain the walks, providing means at 

 each outlet to convey thither any water that might lodge on the opposite side of 

 the walk — that is, when it is not convenient to have outlets connected with 

 drains or "• catch-pits "" on both sides of the walk. In the case of walks being 

 made on soils resting on a bed of chalk, gravel or stone, as mentioned above, a 

 smaller quantity of hard materials becomes necessary. A broad walk, having an 

 excavated depth of eighteen inches, should have at least one foot of coarse 

 materials in the bottom, over this three inches of coarse gravel, followed by a 

 like depth of fine red gravel, if obtainable. This should be raked level and 

 smooth, and rolled as soon as dry enough — first, .with a light roller, and then 

 with a heavy one, repeating the operation four or five days in succession, or until 

 a level, firm surface is produced. Walks of from nine to twelve inches deep 

 should be given a layer of proportionate thickness of the several materials 

 recommended for the walk described above. Bold, yet graceful curves should 

 be observed in making winding walks. W here box is used as an edging, taste 

 and judgment, only to be acquired by practice, are necessary to do the work 

 with precision and neatness. H. W . Ward. Lo/n^forJ Casfie, Sti/isfii/n. 



