2 



RATIONAL GARDEN WALKS. 



A Pleasant Garden Walk — Parsley-Edged. 



unless a police officer is in sight), with unsightly 

 ' ' Don't " boards, and the cow-paths along the sides . 



That the grass walk is quite as suitable for the 

 less-frequented parts of public grounds as of pri- 

 vate gardens, is apparent from the fact that most of 

 the fine landscape cemeteries of our cities are with- 

 out any other kind of walks — the areas of grass being 

 treated as commons, with no injurious consequences. 

 The truth is, that a greensward will bear a great 

 amount of tramping without a particle of injury, 

 unless the tramping be along regular lines — a 

 thing not likely to occur where the utmost liberty 

 as to the place of walking is encouraged. 



Stone, asphalt and well-made gravel paths are 

 too expensive for the average garden-maker, even 

 where used a good deal. In the illustration (on pre- 

 ceding page) appear two kinds of neat and effective 

 walks, much less costly than the kinds named. The 

 one to the right is made of planed pine slats about 



three inches wide, of x^-'vaoh. lumber, resting on 

 stringers running lengthwise. The other consists 

 of plank laid on cross-stringers along the center of 

 the walk, the gravel being filled in on both sides. 

 The former is well adapted to curves. When so 

 employed, one end of the slats should be wider than 

 the other. Any carpenter can make them with- 

 out loss of material. 



In conclusion it may be said, that two general 

 principles, one of art and the other of morals, are 

 involved in a rational treatment of even so simple a 

 theme as the laying out of garden walks. Firstly : 

 since Art is Fitness, if a public path be not adapted 

 to — that is, fit for — public use, it is not artistic, how- 

 ever perfect be the curves of that walk which it is 

 a weariness to tread on. Secondly : it should never 

 be forgotten that the public is made up of separate 

 human beings, whose comfort and convenience, not 

 their bare necessities, demand regard. 



