14 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



unless exceedingly well kept, soon look ill. Few places arc 

 so well supplied with excellent gi'avel as the neighbourhood of 

 London ; that from Kensington is supposed the best, and there 

 are frequent instances of its being exported to Scotland for 

 garden-walks. The advantage of good gravel, for the embel- 

 lishment of a garden, is of much importance, but there are 

 many situations, where this article is not to be procured, unless 

 at an enonnous expense. Recourse, therefore, must be had 

 to substitutes, and there are several, which will make excellent 

 walks, equally comfortable and agreeable as gravel, but which 

 flill far short of it in point of beauty. 



Of these substitutes, coal ashes are the best, and for kitchen- 

 garden walks may answer the desired purpose. In those situa- 

 tions, where utility and comfort are the only objects, ashes, 

 when sifted and laid upon any bottom, whether prepared or 

 not, by being rendered dry, make excellent walks ; they are 

 not much affected by rain, neither are they apt to be disturbed 

 by fi'osts, nor subject to be overgi'own with weeds ; but should 

 the latter be the case, they are easily cleared of them. 



Road-sand is also a good substitute for gravel, and that 

 which is procured from roads formed of flints is the best. The 

 walks may be rendered dry before it is put on, in the same 

 manner as gravel, which \n\\ prevent the effects of worm casts, 

 to which walks of sand are very subject It should be laid on 

 in a wet state approaching to mortar, and, when partially diy, 

 rolled down. Walks of this sort are easily kept clear of 

 weeds, and during summer, are neat and clean. In autumn, 

 and during the frosts and thaws of ^^-inter, they become soft 

 and unpleasant, and are apt to get overgi'own with various 

 species of mosses and conferva. 



Saw-dust makes a dry walk, where it can be had in abund- 

 ance : it is di-y and clean, few weeds will make their appeai- 

 ance in such walks, but it is a material which requires often to 

 be renewed. 



In Holland, where gravel is very scarce, many of the best 

 gardens have their walks formed of bog-mould ; but it is liable 

 to many defects, and is neither di'y nor clean. 



Small pebbles, imbedded in strong clay, when placed closely 

 together like a causeway, make an excellent, chy and clean 



