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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ March 17, 1863. 



TAR OR ASPHALT WALKS. 



In some recent Numbers Mr. E ibson has described the various 

 materials of which paths and walks may be mide, arjd the prin- 

 cples of their construction. Mny I add, as a s-upplnment to 

 his remarks, an account of the tar paths which aie at present 

 uiufh used in this city by our surveyor of road* ? The body of 

 the path it* made of ihe soft oolitic stone or other rubbl-> free ol 

 dirt, 'ibis is brought to a tolerably even surface with the rake, 

 and over it is laid about 3 inches thick of a hard mountain 

 limestone, known here as Clifton Black R ck, which has pre- 

 viou-ly been broken into pieces not exceeding an inch and a half 

 in size, and these passed over a three-quarter-inch riddle to 

 separate the finer particles. The stones are then very equally 

 mixed with enough cold gas tar to cover every stone, but not to 

 leave more fluid tar than can be avoided. They are spread 

 equally with the shovel over the softer foundation, and when 

 levelled are carefully rolled with an iron roller drawn by two 

 men, to give a Bmooth surface. This is then sprinkled with about 

 three quarters of an inch thick of the finer particles of black 

 rock, whereby any fluid tar is absorbed and a finer surface 

 obtained of a hardness equal to the stones. Of course, a dry 

 day must be selected, as all the materials must be dry, otherwise 

 the tar will not adhere to the stone. Four men will lay down a 

 very long piece per day — the more pains are taken the better is 

 the path. 



At first the stones, covered with tar, were laid down without 

 sifting j the result of which was that the path was never smooth, 

 the larger stones cropping out and being uncomlortable to the 

 feet. Where barrowB are likely to be used, paving occupies the 

 middle nnd the edges are tar paths. A better path or one more 

 pleasant to use cannot be made, and the more it is used soon 

 after its first formation the better it becomes. The objection to 

 it is, that for some months in warm, weather there is the smell 

 of ga3 tar. It is very inexpensive, lasis for many years, and 

 acquires a dull grey colour. One's day's work is easily joined to 

 the piece made in the preceding day. The fear of the offensive 

 odour led the City Act Committee to order in some parts paths 

 to be made of puzzolana, ground lime, and stone, but these are 

 at least one-third more expensive, and are not so pleasant for 

 foot, passengers. Blindfolded, one could notice that they do not 

 possess the elasticity of the tar paths ; nor is it probable that 

 they will wear so well, the whole material not being so hard, 

 while it is more brittle, it cannot be laid so smooth, and the 

 joints are never good. 



Some years ago I laid down some tar paths, running between 

 Box-edgings, in my kitchen garden. They were made with 

 boiled tar and silted rubble ; but from further experience 1 

 should not now adopt them, for the Box is killed where the tar 

 surrounds the 6tems, the weeds grow between the edge of the 

 tar and the Box, and the materials of the walk rise at the eige, 

 so that the whole path becomes irregular in two years. This, 

 probably, would not occur if slate or wood-edging were used ; 

 but it must always be remembered that if the soil below the tar 

 or cement path;! be damp, the first hard frost will make it rise, 

 and large patches will peel up. Paths of the above description 

 answer beet when flanked by a wall, and when above the level 

 of the soil ; if below it, or not thoroughly drained, they soon 

 perish.— A Bath Man. 



SHADING FERNERIES. 



Some reader of this Journal may have a fernery requiring 

 shade from the sun's rays, and may be anxious to know of a 

 cheaper mode of shading than by using tiffany, bunting, hexagon 

 netting, &e. 



We had such a hoiiBe, costing some £3 10s. annually in tiffany, 

 which was more than it cost in heating. "We wanted a perma- 

 nent shading material, for the Ferns were planted out, and, there- 

 fore, not likely to be used for any other purpose for some years. 

 I had some squares of glass, mixed some whitelead paint and 

 painted three squares of various consistences of paint, one thick, 

 another medium, and one thin. Then, holding one of them to 

 the sun, where the mercury was driven up to 104° in the full 

 solar rays, I could see no Bun through it, and a thermometer 

 under the glass read 71°. That was the square painted with the 

 thick paint, which was too opaque. The medium-thick paint 

 allowed the light and heat to pass through the glass until the 

 thermometer became stationary at 81°; that, also, was too 

 opaque. That, however, with the thin paint on it could just be 



looked at when held between the eye and the sun ; and the ther- 

 mometer under it rose to 86". 



I painted some squares green, others red, some blue, and more 

 yellow. Then placing these together along with the white, I had 

 contrasted shades or rays of light, but as red, blue, green, and 

 yellow tinted the plan**, though they did not alter the colour of 

 the plants, yet these looked as if surrounded by a coloured atmo- 

 sphere; but white- painted glass had not any such drawback: 

 therefore I considered it the only colour fit for the purpose of 

 shade, as it gave pretty nearly the same light as nature — I mean, 

 allowed the light to pass through the glass untinted, unlike the 

 other colours. 



The painters were sent for, given the pane of pain'ed glass, 

 and told to paint the glass roof outside exactly like it. They 

 hinted that to dash their dust-brush perpendicularly lightly on 

 the painted glass would give it a frosted appearance. That was 

 a first-rate suggestion, and therefore acted on. 



The roof must be thoroughly dry before the paint is put on, 

 and the internal atmosphere kept as low as possible, air given, 

 and eret'j means available taken to prevent water condensing on 

 the glass, for water finds its way through the laps, and runs 

 down the squares outside, leaving marks a quarter of an inch 

 broad, and tfiat spoils the appearance materially. 



Tbe appearanea when completed was superb, and the utility 

 of the plan was very great. The plants throve well, and though 

 gloomy in winter the plant3 keep their colour, and are in nowise 

 drawn. The paint shading prevents the internal temperature 

 from cooling as rapidly as with tiffany, and is not liable to be- 

 come hot so soon — in fact, it gives a uniform temperature, 

 becoming neither quickly hot nor soon cool, and that is what 

 most plants that grow in shady places require. How long the 

 painting will List I cannot tell, but ours has stood three years, 

 and is as good as ever. A plan like this gave in three years 

 some £7 for the gnrdener to buy something extra to gratify his 

 master, which otherwise would have gone iu tiffany. — Or. A. 



MORE ABOUT POTATOES. 



As " Upwakds and Onwabds " has been giving a description 

 of the best Potatoes he saw at the International Exhibition at 

 South Kensington, so far as their appearance went, perhaps a 

 few words Irom one of the exhibitors may not be out of place, 

 stating their different habits of growth and eating qualities. 



I will take first the first earlies, as they are the first ready for 

 eating. 



Old Ashleaf. — A capital cropping and superior eating Potato ; 

 but for exhibition purposes it is not a good one, as you would 

 want to grow a bushel to pick twelve large ones from. 



Red Ashleaf — A good cropper, capital for exhibiting, but 

 requires keeping a month or two before it is good to eat, and 

 when boiled is too white-looking in the dish. Nevertheless, it 

 is a good Potato, as it will keep as long as the late kinds and 

 takes up verv In tie room, being very short and close in the top. 



Lemon Kidney. — A splendid-eating Potato, and looks a 

 beautiful pale yellow when boiled; produces a great many at a 

 root, but rather inclined to the disease if grown upon a wet 

 soil. Altogether a superior early Potato, and just what judges 

 like ; a Potato fit. for a gentleman's table. 



Jatjcsoris Seedling. — A capital Potato. I have taken prizes 

 with this for both rounds and kidneys, and when digging roots 

 up part of them will be quite round and others kidney-shaped. 

 One or two of the judges in this neighbourhood say they are 

 not good-eating, but I always found them good ; perhaps the 

 suil made the difference. 



Myatfs Early Kidney. — A first-rate Potato for every purpose, 

 especially for exhibiiiug, as nearly all of them are of a good 

 shape. ft is a good cropper and very early — nearly as early as 

 the Lemon Kidney, but a better shape. 



Sutton's Racehorse. — A first early kidney, a certain cropper, 

 and capital eating, and one of the earliest grown ; very similar 

 in shape to the Old Ashleaf. 



Early Handsworth — A very early Potato with a very Bhort 

 top and good shape, round ; but you catinot eat it, so who will 

 grow it ? If any one likes a Potato very waxy, this is the one 

 for his taste. 



New Go/den Seedling. — A very superior eating and looking 

 Potato, round-shaped, very early, and good cropper, with very 

 dark foliage. This is all the first early Potatoes I grew last year. 



The King. — Second early, a great cropper upon good land, 



