WALKS IN THE PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 57 



interest. These walks sliould also lead to the places 

 from which the finest views are seen. For purposes of 

 recreation, and the proper exhibition of the grounds, 

 a variety of secondary walks are needful. As a general 

 rule, it may be noted that all narrow walks should be 

 avoided. On all walks in pleasure-grounds, three per- 

 sons, at least, should be able to walk abreast, a quali- 

 fication which wiU require them to be at least seven feet 

 wide. When narrower than this mark, walks produce 

 an unsociable disjunction of a party, and mar that con- 

 versational enjoyment which is one of the main charms 

 of such scenes. Short and frequent zigzags in the line 

 of walks should be avoided, as they not only look ill, 

 but also require a continual twistbag and turning, to 

 the utter interruption of easy and meditative walking. 

 Walks, and especially the leading ones on terraces and 

 in the dressed grounds, ought to be very carefully and 

 efficiently constructed, otherwise they cannot be expected 

 to be firm, dry, and comfortable at all seasons. They 

 should be bottomed with, from four to six inches of hand- 

 packed stones or old bricks, broken small on the top, 

 or blinded with land gravel, small flints, or fine road- 

 metal, and then covered with from three to four inches 

 of gravel. Pit gravel, as binding most readily, is the 

 most suitable for making a firm walk; and therefore, 

 when it is to be had in sufficient (juantity and of a proper 

 quality, it should be used in preference to other Idnds. 

 Sea and river gravel do not bind so well, fi'om lack of 

 earthy matter; and therefore, when employed for the 

 first three inches, it should receive a slight admixture of 

 earthy sand or ashes or rotten rock, and after this layer 

 has been made firm by rolling, it should receive a thin 

 coating of the water-carried gravel. Walks should be 



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