62 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



diately in front of a dwelling-house, they may well be taken along perfectly straight, 

 turning off with an easy curve in any desired direction. When, however, it is a ques- 

 tion of forming strictly pleasure paths through the grounds and shrubberies, then they 

 ought to wind about, as shown in Fig. 31, so as to include the best views of various 

 objects, such as castles, abbeys, mansions, churches and monuments, either in the 

 distance or close at hand. The positions from which they can best be seen should be 

 selected, and the walks lead up to and away from these. Water scenery is always 

 attractive, and if the walks can be taken close to a pond, lake, or river at places, that 

 will be an advantage. When good winding walks are provided — and these are also 

 the best in every way when a steep bank has to be breasted — objects of interest, 

 such as choice conifers, flowering trees, and shrubs, including groups of rhododen- 

 drons, isolated flower-beds, and beds of roses, can be established where they will be 

 displayed to the best advantage. It is a great mistake to run a walk or walks right 

 through the centre of a lawn, or to needlessly break up an expanse of turf in any 

 such way. 



In not a few cases where gravelled walks are formed, turf walks would have been 

 more appropriate and more enjoyable. When the ground is well drained and the grass 

 kept closely mown, they are little, if any, damper than gravelled walks, while they 

 are much cooler and pleasanter in hot weather. The extra trouble of mowing is 

 scarcely worth notice, and it must be borne in mind that gravelled walks require to 

 be surfaced with fresh material every few years, also to be kept free from weeds, or 

 they will be unsightly, and rolled, or they will be harsh to the feet. 



The width of walks should be varied according to circumstances. Terrace walks 

 and those along the fronts of houses are usually from 8 feet to 12 feet in width. 

 The other important walks ought to be from 5 feet to 6 feet wide, while from 3 feet to 

 4 feet suffices for certain positions. 



Drives or carriage-ways to a house have perforce to be formed primarily with a 

 view to utility, but need not necessarily be straight and excessively formal. The 

 approach may be perfectly straight, and this affords a good opportunity for laying 

 the foundation of a noble avenue of trees ; but once inside the pleasure-grounds then 

 very straight cuts should be avoided, and bold sweeps and easy curves arranged as 

 both convenient and agreeable. It is only in the case of long distances that drives 

 need be made wide enough for conveyances to pass each other without getting off 

 the track, but there ought always to be a good circle at the front door, in diameter 



