68 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



bo well beaten and rolled. Choose a warm day (the warmer the better); let the tar be 

 boiling hot ; use the common, long-handled, iron-bound tar-brush and iron kettle, 

 holding about a gallon, for the purpose of taking only so much tar from the boiler at 

 one time as can be used in about a quarter of an hour, and paint over with a good coat. 

 Let a lad follow with dry sifted sand, throwing over enough to prevent the tar sticking 

 to his feet, and then go over with the roller. Two men tarring will employ a lad to 

 follow with the sand, and another to attend to the fire and supply the tar as fast as it is 

 used. This repeated every three years, the surface will become quite hard, and the paths 

 will always be perfectly dry and pleasant to walk upon, even in the worst weather. 



" 3. Where good gravel or other material is scarce, garden paths may be formed by 

 using gas-lime from the ga^jworks. A firm foundation must be formed, with what rough 

 material may be obtainable, and made quite smooth and level. The gas-lime is then 

 to be laid on 1 inch to 1^ inches thick, highest in the middle of the path, to throw oif the 

 rain, then well rolled or beaten with the back of a spade. Over that is placed a thinner 

 layer of fine coal ashes, or rather dust ; this is well rolled, too, and the walk finished. 

 The rain runs ofi", no wheelbarrow leaves a track on it, and no weeds or moss grow on 

 it. The colour is a dark grey." 



Edgings to walks or drives are usually needed, and in suitable positions few 

 answer better than grass verges. They ought to be laid tii-mly and evenly, also wide 

 enough to admit of mowing with a machine. Where there is too much shade for 

 grass to grow, then ivy will be found an excellent substitute. Both the small-leaved 

 common kind, Hedera helix, and the familiar large-leaved Irish ivy, answer well if 

 planted out of pots, and pegged down, so as to form a continuous line at once. In 

 the course of a few years, a dense evergreen edging will be established, requiring 

 only an occasional severe clipping to keep it fresh and within bounds. Woodland 

 and shrubbery walks may also be bordered with Mahonia aquifolia, while some have 

 rough rockery edgings, in which ferns, periwinkles (vincas), and other appropriate 

 plants are established. 



LAWNS AND GKASS PLOTS. 

 British lawns are world-renowned. They are the pride of their owners, and the 

 envy of the foreigner. Our American visitors are invariably impressed v/ith the 

 refreshing appearance of our closely-shaven, velvety turf, and attempts have been 

 made to have some of it " sent over " for establishing in their pleasure grounds. 



