"Elastic WaViS for Gardens. 181 



rated by a thick hedge, or by shrubs closely planted, from the 

 sljrubbery or arboretum. If an arboretum, the water at the end 

 of the straight walk is intended for an aquarium ; if a shrub- 

 bery, it may be turned into a pond. The side wings of the 

 flower-garden are intended for children's gardens ; or they may 

 be appropriated for florist's flowers. 



Art. VIII. On a Method of making elastic Walks Jbr Gardens. By 

 Mr. Peter Mackenzie. 



Many things have been invented to render the body of man 

 easy and comfortable ; and, of these, the improvements which 

 derive their advantages from elasticity appear to be preferred : 

 the Indian-rubber shoes, and the water-proof elastic hats, I think, 

 are proofs of this. The object of this paper is to carry the em- 

 ployment of elasticity a little farther, and to introduce it into 

 gardening, if it is not already in use. Among the various 

 methods of making walks pointed out in your Enci/clopcedia 

 of Gardenings I can find none that accord exactly with those 

 that I would recommend in this paper; namely, elastic walks. 

 Their object is to add pleasure to the flower-garden; for in many 

 gardens the walks are of such a nature, that one would almost 

 think they were intended to make the persons walking on them 

 do penance in the temple of Flora, instead of affl)rding ease 

 and pleasure while contemplating the cultivated beauties of the 

 vegetable kingdom ; but, I believe, if the plan be adopted which 



1 shall pi'esently recommend, the fairest flowers of creation will 

 linger with delight amonc; the ambrosial sweets of the flower- 

 garden, and walk with as much softness and comfort as if on a 

 Brussels carpet. 



The method I would recommend to make elastic walks is this: — 

 Remove the earth 1 ft. deep ; and, if found necessary to have a 

 drain, make it in the centre or side of the walk. After the 

 drain is finished, fill the bottom of the walk with small stones 

 to the depth of 3 in. or 4 in. ; then fill up the remaining 8 in. 

 with flow-peat, or decomposed moss (5'phagnum). This kind 

 of peat is light and spongy, it resists putrefaction, and remains 

 longer unimpaired in its form, than any other kind of peat. 

 After it is put into the cradle of the walk, it must be levelled 

 with the spade, and trodden upon with the feet, so that no ine- 

 qualities may appear on the surface : afterwards the roller should 

 be brought over it. After this treatment, it will become more 

 compact, and will have sunk a little: this will allow room for 



2 in. or 3 in. of fine engine ashes to be laid above it. The ashes 

 that have undergone two burnings are the best for colour, havino- 

 a close resemblance to gravel. After distributing the ashes 



Vol. XII. — No. 73. p 



