Jan.] flower garden. 67 
and into the principal internal divisions, so as to have dry and firm 
walking- at all times of the year; for frequently, but particularly 
in winter and in wet weather, grass walks are very uncomfortable 
and even unhealthy to walk on. These walks should be of propor- 
tional width in diflerent parts, and larger and smaller in proportion 
to the extent of the ground. 
As to the distribution of gravel walks — first a magnificent one, 
from fifteen to twenty or thirty feet wide, should range immediately 
close and parallel to the front of the house, and be conducted di- 
rectly across the lawn into the nearest side shrubberies; from this 
main walk other smaller ones, from five to ten or fifteen feet wide, 
according to the extent of the ground, should branch oft" at proper 
intervals, directed in the serpentine way — some leading through 
the outer boundary plantations as already hinted — others into the 
internal divisions, and others carried along the boundary plantation 
of the main lawn; all of which walks being conducted through the 
difFent parts in order to attbrd the convenience of shade and retire- 
ment occasionally, as well as to enjoy the variety of the trees, 
shrubs and flowers, variously presenting themselves at different 
turnings: for the walks having various sweeps and windings dis- 
covering only a moderate length at once, every turning produces 
new varieties, and should likewise be so contrived as at proper 
intervals to discover openings for prospects into different principal 
divisions of the ground, having in some places the plantation of 
trees, shrubs and flowers bordering close upon the walks; in other 
parts have on one side of the walks considerable grass spaces run- 
ning into the plantation in one or more concave curves, to form the 
greater diversity. 
In some places the winding of walks should be gradual and 
moderate; in others, exhibit sudden turns and sweeps — some dis- 
playing magnificent projections in the plantation; others, spacious 
openings bordered with curious plants; in other parts a close thick- 
et, which sometimes may seem to terminate the walk, when by a 
sudden turn it breaks out all at once into some grand open division, 
spacious open walk, an avenue or elegant piece of water, open groves 
&c. ; and in other parts a walk suddenly divides into two or three 
divisions leading different ways in gradual sweeps, each separation 
being formed by a projecting clump of shrubbery work or group of 
trees, &c., and each division of the walk is conducted by such varied 
serpentine turns as soon to be concealed from the other by the inter- 
vening compartments. 
Sometimes, similar to the ancient designs, a spacious gravel walk 
is extended in a perpendicular line immediately from the front of 
the house dividing the lawn, or extended on both boundaries and 
in other directions, with a wide border on each side, either straight 
or sometimes a little serpentined, and planted with the most curious 
low flowering shrubs, evergreens and herbaceous flowering plants. 
All these gravel walks should be laid with the best gravel, six or 
eight inches deep at least, but if more the better. 
All the open grass spaces may be considered as grass walks, 
whether formed in the manner of walks, or as breaks or divisions 
