CHAPTER II 
Making Paths—Edgings to Lawns and Walks—Making a Lawn 
—Lawns from Turf and Seed—Preparing Ground—Planting 
--Best Time to Plant—Planting Bulbs—What to Plant in 
Spring—Plants for Shady, Sunny, and Dusty Gardens— 
How to make a Small Rockery. 
Making Paths.—The most important item in making paths 
and walks isto have a good foundation and thorough drainage, so 
that even in wet weather the surface may remain comparatively dry. 
Where it is intended to make the path the soil is dug out about 
1 foot deep. Even if this be heavy, clayey stuff, it may be spread 
about on beds and borders. After a few months’ exposure to the 
various natural agencies, sun, air, rain, frost, etc., it will become 
fairly friable, and can be dug in the border. It is best to do this 
work in the autumn, as by springtime the excavated soil will be in a 
fit condition to dig into the various beds ; for light, sandy, or gravelly 
soil it is particularly good. In small gardens there is often a diffi- 
culty in getting rid of such material, and unless it is carted away 
altogether the only thing to do is to spread it on the borders. The 
foundation of the path consists of broken bricks; a good layer of 
these is placed over the bottom of the trench, about half filling the 
latter. Then come clinkers, smaller pieces of brick and _ stones, 
filling say another 3 inches, and on top of these is placed the 
gravel. As each layer of material is put in it is made firm by ram- 
ming, and the second layer should be well rolled also. The surface 
of the walk should be highest in the centre, with a curving outline 
so that water may drain away to the sides, leaving the gravel fairly 
dry even in winter. It is only by frequent rolling, especially for 
some time soon after its conipletion, that a path can be made to 
have a tirm surface. 
Gravel and Asphalt Paths.—There is nothing uglier than 
an asphalt path in a garden ; it certainly cannot be its attractiveness 
that commends it to those who patronise this form of walk. - Asphalt 
paths detract from the beauty of a garden, especially a little garden ; 
flowers never look their best in such company. Moreover, they are 
rather expensive. Still, they have one great recommendation—they 
are always clean and dry ; they can be swept very easily, require 
no yee and may be used with comfort even in the depth of winter. 
‘The surface is hard, and, unlike that of a gravel path, never 
becomes sticky. By frequent rolling after rain, however, the surface 
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