GRAVEL. 



GRAVEL, in Agrkuhnri, a trrm frequently npplicd to 

 a well known ir.att'i'ial of the fmall ftony kind, tlie fizcs of 

 the particles of which vary from thofe of very fmall peas to 

 cockles, and fometimes larger. They are often intermixed 

 with other matters, fuch as fand, clay, loam, flints, pebbles, 

 ironocres, &c. YienciXhoK ire fandy, clayey, loamy, Jl'mty, 

 pebbly, ocrey or Jerruginous gravels, &c. 



Gravel, in Garder.ir^, is a fmsli ftony fubftance made 

 ufe of for the purpofe of conflrufting roade, walks and 

 paths.. Walks formed of this material are great ornaments 

 to gardens and pleafure-grounds, as well as ufeful for com- 

 mon walking upon. 



The bell gravel for thofe purpofes is that which is natu- 

 rally compofed of irregular pebbles and flints, having a mo- 

 derate proportion of a yellowifh or brownifli fandy loam, to 

 make it bind, and give colour. It is obtained in fields and 

 commons, in many parts, at from one, to three or four feet 

 under the furface, though not equally good in all parts, in 

 refpeft to quality and colour, fome having a greater or lefs 

 proportion of pebbles, a larger or fmaller proportion of loam, 

 which is more or lofs iandy or clayey : it is the colour of the 

 loam, or oxyd of iron, principally, which conditutes the 

 beauty of gravel walks ; that of a deepifli yellow or reddifh 

 colour being the moll eligible, as when formed into well-laid 

 walks and rolled, it has an exceedingly beautiful and orna- 

 mental effedl. Wliere fuch gravel can be procured within a 

 moderate dillance, and eaiy expence, it is preferable to all 

 others in fome parts. Gravel is of an iron-mould colour, or 

 of a dufl<y brown hue, which may neverthclefs be of a pro- 

 per quality for walks where the colour is difregarded. 



Whatever colour the grav^:! may have, its proper quality 

 for walks is, a due proportion of moderate, light, fandy 

 loam, to make it bind cloie and firm at all feafons ; but not 

 fo redundant, or fo clayey, as to be clammy and ftick to the 

 feet in wet weather, or fo fliarp and fandy as to become open 

 and looie in dry weather. 



In fome places, no other gravel is met with but fuch as is 

 very loofe, fandy, or pebbly, and which has fcarcely any 

 binding materials amongft it ; which kind never of itfelf 

 binds, but always remains open and loofe, being at all 

 times difagreeable to walk upon ; this may, however, be 

 mended by a mixture of light fandy loam, where pratlicable, 

 adding about one load to every two or three of gravel, cart- 

 ing them together, and turning them over two or three times, 

 that they may be well blended and incorporated ; and this, 

 when formed into a walk, will often b^^id clofe, firm, and 

 fmooth at all feafons of the year. 



In preparing the gravel for way^s, it fliould not by any 

 means be finely fcreencd, as is often the praftice : as it is 

 dug out of the pit, it is only neceffary to call it up in a 

 heap, or long ridge, all fuch large rough pebbles only as 

 roll down being cleared away ; as if Icreened from the 

 ftones, it partakes too much of the loam, fo as always to rtick 

 to the feet at every flalh of rain. 



In purchafing gravel for walks, it i,s mollly from about 

 two to five or (w IhiUings or more per cart-load for tliree 

 horfes ; though the price diifers greatly in different parts, 

 and according to the nature of the gravel, as well as the 

 goodnels of its colour. 



In refpeft to the diilribution of gravel-walks in pleafure- 

 grounds, and gardens, for ornament or ufe, large ones are 

 neceflary to proceed parallel to the houfe, extending e^ch 

 way towards the fide dillriclsof the garden and ornamented 

 grounds : according to the former llyle of gardennig, a large 

 walk of this kind « as uiually extended in a llraight fine from 

 the front of the habitation along the middle of the pleafure 

 ground, fometimes having grals plats continued on each 



fide, and fometime* fpacious borders furnifhed with curioui 

 Ihrubs and flowers. But in modern defigns thefc middle 

 walks are rarely admitted, efpccially in fpaiious prounds, 

 having nothing in front beyond the parallel habitatio* 

 walk, but an open rural grafs lawn, free from all intetfec- 

 tionj of walks, &c. However, a good walk clofely parallel 

 to the houfe is indifpenfably neceffary, both fi.r ornament 

 and convenience, and from tliis fide-walks (hould branch off, 

 communicating with tiie other parts of the pleafure or gar- 

 den-grounds ; one in particular to be extended in a ferpenc 

 tine manner quite round the ground, others leading in ti.e 

 fame manner through the interior parts, fo as to have dry 

 firm walking at all times to every part of the ground or 

 garden, without coming upon the grafs. 



The dimenfions for gravel-walks mud be regulated ac- 

 cording to tlie extent of the grounds or gardens, as from 

 five to twenty feet or more in width ; but all principal walkd 

 Ihould be at lead eight or ten feet wide ; and in large 

 grounds or gardens leading dirciflly from the houfe, they 

 Ihould be ten, fifteen, or twenty feet wide at leall. When 

 the houfes and gardens are very large, the main walks conti- 

 guous to the manfion are fometimes made thirty or forty 

 feet wide ; the boundaries on each fide being fometimes in 

 grafs widely extended, and fometimes in borders for flowers 

 and other curious plants, having either narrow verges of 

 grafs, or edgings of dwarf box, or thrift, on the fides of 

 the walks. 



In forming walks of this fort, they fliould be firft ftaked 

 out to the proper width, and then the boundaries formed, 

 each fide of equal level, correfponding to the adjacent ground; 

 the cavity of the walk for the reception of the gravel being 

 afterwards made, the whole (pace being dug out at lealt 

 twelve inches deep, to allow for a proper depth of gravel, 

 both to prevent weeds coming from the ground below, and 

 worms from calling up the earth ; as alfo to allow of a pro- 

 per depth for turning the gravel octafionally when the furtacc 

 becomes foul ; tlie earth dug out to form the cavity of the 

 walk may be ufed to railo and form the ground on each fide, 

 if ncceflarv, which, and the edgings, fliould always be 

 completed before the gravel is begun to be laid down into 

 the cavity formed for it. 



When the cavity has been thus prepared, any hard rub- 

 blihlng materials mav be laid in the liotlom, icveral inclies 

 thick ; fuch as coarfe gravel or balhifl, roiigii ilony hme, 

 brick, or other rubbilli, which will greatly prevent worm- 

 calls, and help to drain the moillure from the top of the" 

 walk in wet weather, and in winter prolerw a dry lurface : 

 the proper gravel is then to be laid fix or eight inches thick; 

 in laying, raifingthe middle higher than the fides, in a gra- 

 dual rounding form ; which is not only neceffary to throw 

 oft the wet, but alfo to give tiie walk a more oriiamimal 

 appearance ; tlie proportion to be obferved in this is, lor a 

 walk of five or fix feet width, an inch and a half of rife ia 

 the middle ; for one of ten or twelve feet, two and a halt 

 inches ; and for one of twenty feet, from three to four or 

 five inches ; the fame proportion being regarded in other 

 widths. At every ten or fifteen feet, as the work advances 

 in laying, it i<; proper to tread, rake, and roll th<; gravel 

 down, as it always roils more firm and fir.ool!-. whilil fielh 

 ftirred ; it is alfo necefrary, for fear of rain, efpccially in 

 loamy gravel ; for which reafons, more ihould never Le hid 

 in one dav than can be finiflied oft', except the rough laying. 

 The treading lliould be performed regul.'uly with the feet 

 pretty clofe, taking fliort fteps ; fo as lo render every part 

 equallv'firm, and nut to fink in holes under the feet, in the 

 work of raking and rolling. The raking fhould be perform- 

 ed regularly lengthways of the walk ; and in the fiaiihinff 



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