Paving the Way to Success 47 



view. In not a few instances where these paved ways 

 appear they were orginally laid to secure dry winter 

 walks, after being laid in good mortar on a deep bed 

 of cinder ash. Later plant cultivation between the 

 joints came into being, and pretty effects having been 

 secured, the idea grew, and has now reached some 

 degree of popularity. In some quarters — a very feeble 

 minority, it is true — the idea has been ridiculed, on the 

 ground that a pathway was intended to be walked upon 

 and not so occupied with plant life as to make move- 

 ment difficult. If this style of planting were general, 

 the complaint would be justified. We have seen a few 

 instances where the plants used were much better 

 suited to the garden border. These, however, are the 

 errors of individuals, and the principle should not be 

 condemned because of them. The number of suitable 

 plants is not large, and a knowledge of their habits is 

 at least desirable. In not a few instances flatish slabs 

 of sandstone or limestone are employed. They are 

 not a bad substitute where they are in agreement with 

 their surroundings. The chief idea to be kept in mind 

 is narrow openings between the stones ; nine-inch wide 

 gaps or more are an error. Do not lay the stones on 

 a bed of brick earth and expect plants to thrive. A 

 little preparation of the interstices is, at least, necessary. 

 The Stone Steps of the garden may likewise be made 

 effective with pretty plants and ferns in nooks and 

 corners, though in these, unless arrangements have 

 been made for their.reception, the available space is not 

 large. As in the case of the paved way the plant life 

 introduced should be in the nature of garniture (Fig. 

 24), affording a suggestion of age and repose. The 

 plants, in other words, should never be an obstruction 

 to the pedestrian, and should never be large enough to 

 usurp positions for which they were never intended. 

 The base of a set of steps or their sides may merit 

 special treatment ; the cracks between the " treads " will 

 have to be considered apart. For these latter, the intro- 

 duction, here and there, of a seed, with soil, will be 



