434; Retrospective Criticism. 



observed, that the most simple remedies are frequently the most effectual, and 

 the success in this case confirms the fact; for very simple means were used 

 with the most satisfactory result. The plants were syringed with soap lees 

 from the wash-house, heated to 110', every morning for one week, and the 

 frame or pits kept perfectly close until the thermometer registered 120° ; when, 

 if the sun were sufficiently powerful to dispel the moisture as it was deposited on 

 the glass, mats were thrown over the frame during mid-day. This shading will 

 not always be necessary, and, in fact, at no time, provided a dense vapour is 

 kept up in the frame ; for I am certain that plants under glass will never take 

 injury from the heat of even a July sun, if there is sufficient moisture in the 

 frame to keep the glass constantly moist, and there is no air admitted. Thus, 

 with these simple means, and but one week's trouble, the scale was destro3'ed, 

 and there has not been the least sign of it since. — L. O^L. CMsivick Gar- 

 dens, May 20. 1835. 



The Substitution of Pavement for Gravel. — 1 am an advocate for the sub- 

 stitution of pavement for gravel, to a certain extent, for garden walks. I was 

 very much pleased with what you say on the subject in p. 291. It is some- 

 what singular that I should have recommended this plan to a friend of mine, 

 about six months ago, for a small garden which he has at the front of his house, 

 in the neighbourhood of Dalston ; and, on reading your article, I was struck 

 with the coincidence of ideas which seems to exist between us ; and which 

 did not arise in my mind from what you had written before upon the subject, 

 as intimated in that article, which, if ever I did read it, has quite escaped my 

 recollection ; from which I am led to suppose that it was only cursoriljf treated 

 on. [Nothing more ; we cannot even find the place where we mentioned the 

 subject.] If a peculiar adaptableness exists in substituting pavement for gravel, 

 I think it is to be found in the small gardens which form the frontages of houses 

 in the vicinity of the metropolis, or elsewhere : how far it may be advan- 

 tageous upon a large scale remains to be proved. For kitchen-gardens I 

 think an edging of the same material would be desirable, in order to keep the 

 earth from washing into the walks during heavy rains ; but this, unfortunately, 

 would enhance the price in laying it down : the same will also apply to the 

 flower-garden or shrubbery, where there is no verge of grass, or edge of box, 

 thrift, or some other substitute. If employed for the walks in a kitchen- 

 garden, it should be very substantially laid down, so that wheeling upon it may 

 not cause the least derangement ; and, if on a long line of level, a little descent 

 towards one side will be necessary, with small gratings or holes left open at 

 the lowest side, at proper distances, to take ofi'the water ; and which, indeed, 

 it will be necessary to take into account on every occasion, particularly when 

 the edging is of the same material. The expense of a drain may be avoided, 

 by leaving small openings in the edge, with gutters formed in the soil, to take 

 off the water into the quarters or the shrubbery. However, the expense of 

 edging may be saved by laying down the pavement quite as high as the soil on 

 either side, which might do well enough for kitchen-gardens ; but for the par- 

 terre, or pleasure-ground, it would have a bad effect. 



Were I to lay down a paved walk in a kitchen-garden that was pretty level, 

 I should be inclined to lay the pavement about 4 in. or 5 in. below the general 

 level of the garden, and allow a foot in width on each side, for the soil, when 

 ^. levelled, to be a trifle lower than 



the level of the pavement, where I 

 should plant a row of strawberries, 

 which, during the summer, would 

 form a sort of edging ; and this would appear something like the following 

 sketch (Jig. 64.), which, I conceive, would give a tolerably good finish to the 

 whole, and, at the same time, save ail expenses of edges and draining. 



For small parterres, and such gardens as are above alluded to, I think the 

 pavement would be preferable to gravel in all respects but one, namely, the 

 colour ; and in this, gravel will most likely carry the palm, as it forms, per- 

 haps, a more pleasing feature to the eye than pavement. How far custom may 

 go to form this prejudice in the mind, I can hardly say, but I think it will be 



