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138 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [chap.vi. 
to reach every part of the garden as speedily 
as possible, without treading on the beds; 
and for this reason, though the walks are 
made to intersect each other at right angles, 
it is customary in many gardens to round 
the central beds adjoining them at the 
corners. Paths two feet wide are also made 
between the beds into which the compart¬ 
ments are divided; and the beds themselves 
are never wider than a man can conveniently 
reach across to the middle to rake or hoe. 
These paths, however, as they vary according 
to the nature of the crop, are never made of 
any permanent materials; and the whole 
compartment is generally dug over when 
necessary, without paying any regard to 
them, and re-divided into fresh beds every 
season. 
The walks, on the contrary, being intended 
to be permanent, are of a very different na¬ 
ture ; and, in addition to their obvious uses, 
it is essentially requisite that they should be 
hard and firm. This is necessary, as the 
manure, &c. wanted in a kitchen garden, is 
generally distributed through the garden in 
a wheelbarrow; and the weight in the act of 
