30 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GEOITNDS. 



paved with iiaiid-packed stones from four to six inches 

 deep ; over these should be placed four inches of rather 

 small road-metal;, blinded with two inches of fine gravel. 

 If gravel cannot be had^ five inches of road-metal will 

 be necessary^ and two inches at the top must be broken 

 fine. In certain districts there is abundance of what is 

 called rotten rock, or beds of rock partially decomposed 

 by the action of the atmosphere^ which supply an excel- 

 lent blinding material. The road should be rounded 

 by being raised in the centre two or three inches above 

 the sides. In damp situations small drains should be 

 formed along each side and below the roadway. Where 

 the roadway has a hard bottom, that is, when it is cut 

 through rock or firm gravel, the packed stones may be 

 omitted. It is good economy to make a thorough road 

 over the whole breadth at once, as carriages do not 

 always keep the centre, and are sure to break down that 

 part which is insufficiently constructed. The secondary 

 and other service roads in the park should also be well 

 made, though they do not reqnire to be so finely finished 

 as the approach. It may be laid down as an axiom, 

 that weU-made roads are most easily kept in order, and 

 least expensive in their after management. Where cut- 

 tings and embankments are required on approaches, 

 several feet of level space should intervene between the 

 road and the bottom of the slope down to it, or between 

 the road and the upper edge of embankment which 

 supports it. In both cases the newly-formed slopes 

 should be rounded so as to unite as far as possible with 

 the natural curves of the ground. 



Decoration of the Approach. — Much ornament by 

 means of trees and shrubs is not required in the approach, 

 although a moderate degree of embellishment may be con- 



