28 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 10. 
the formation of roads or walks must take place in wet 
weather, and in muddy places. 
The first duty is to well drain the road-way, and, as 
we suppose our present one to be a garden-walk, it will 
j be easy to convey the water into the main drains by 
I which the garden is intersected, supposing it to be so 
i drained, or if it does not want such draining, still to, 
j make sure that the walk be tolerably dry. 
My plan in making a new walk in stiff’, heavy, clayey 
j ground, is to scoop out the interior, so that the centre of 
it may be some seven or eight inches deep, or more, 
while the sides are not more than half that depth; then 
along the centre, which is the deepest part, I cut a drain, 
and lay in ordinary drain pipes, filling it up with stones, 
and a coating of stones all over the foundation of the 
walk, and then a finer sort of stone, and finally the 
' gravel; the advantages of the ground being cut into 
something like a furrow at the bottom, enables the 
water to run off into the drains, and so be carried away. 
Very broad walks will want two or more of such drains; 
and I once arranged a considerable width of carriage- 
j front road-way on this principle “ of ridge and furrow,” 
which acted admirably, the ground being a tenacious 
clay, and the situation a moist one; but in ordinary 
garden walks the best road-stone need not be used, for 
commoner materials will do ; useless lumps of stone, or 
brick-bats that may have been in a building, will be 
very useful, especially if there be any of the old mortar 
adhoring, as that is distasteful to worms, which are sad 
enemies to walks. Clinkers, or the refuse of factory 
fires, are equally applicable, or stones of any kind, are 
all alike wanted, the object being to form a sort of 
bottom through which the water might drain; a harder 
description of stone may be nearer the top, for the walks 
of a kitchen garden have often to endure the wheels of 
barrows and other hand-carriages, so that wo must not 
deny these walks tho necessary hardness to bear such 
heavy loads; at the same time, it must be borne in 
mind that they must present a smooth, even surface as 
well. 
Supposing the foundation of the walk to be completed, 
aud that a covering of good hard stones, broken pretty 
small, has been laid over that, we will then see what 
surface material can bo had; and in the first place stands 
gravel, which is, no doubt, the widest-spread material 
that wo have, and which exists, in one shape or other, 
over most parts of the kingdom; but it is not necessary 
here to describe tho best, as local circumstances usually 
determine which has to be used. One thing, however, 
may be said, that the kind which is cleanest in winter, 
or wet weather, very often gets loose and feels unpleasant 
in dry weather in autumn; while that which is some¬ 
what sticky in winter, or after rain, often becomes very 
hard and firm in dry weather in summer. These points 
being extremes, it would be as well to avoid both, and 
select a gravel containing a part of the good properties 
j of both. 
Next to gravel are broken stones, or what are called 
crushed stones, none being larger than a Walnut. 
'I liese may be used in like manner to gravel, and some 
that I have seen are preferable to that article ; the best 
being the kind sometimes had in mining districts where 
lead and other metals are worked; this I have seen 
lormed into a walk superior to that of any gravel that 
can be had; but as this can only be had in certain 
localities we must pass on. 
Ashes, or the refuse from some iron-works, or other 
places whore extensive furnaces are at work, form pretty 
good walks, some being of a sort of coppor, or bronze 
colour, and certainly distasteful to weeds and worms, as 
some of them contain poisonous matter, which makes 
them a long time proof to weeds. When this can be had, 
it may, with advantage, be used as a covering to w r alks; 
but it is not applicable everywhere; and if not hard, it 
must not be used too plentifully in kitchen-garden walks, 
as the stones underneath it must do the work for it. 
Many other substances might be used as a covering; 
but as local circumstances often determine them, I will 
add no more at present, but may say, that in billy 
walks, or those having much descent, lime may be used 
to some advantage. 1 have used some lime in a pounded 
state, mixed with the gravel when dry, and laid on in 
that state, and after a good watering and beating, it gets 
very hard. This is the principle of concreting; but I 
have never yet been able to do it so effectually as to 
prevent the evil effects of summer thunder storms, where 
the descent is of considerable extent; but certainly this 
i “ concreting ” is of great service. I will give the matter 
: another trial and report tho result. 
I have likewise seen some excellent walks made on 
the asplialte principle ; but this 1 must leave till another 
opportunity; only I may say, that the expense appears 
too great to meet the views of every one wanting a walk 
in their garden; but for public walks and thoroughfares, 
I think it is destined to come into general use at no 
distant period. J. Robson. 
THE EVIL STEP. 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers" 
If there is a sight more particularly distressing than other 
sights, and which most painfully affects the feelings, it is 
that of a parent dependant upon children for support. It 
is contrary to the law of Nature, and, therefore, disastrous 
in its consequences. Under the most favourable circum¬ 
stances it never succeeds well; and when things do not go 
smoothly, the bitterness is indescribable. Even high prin¬ 
ciples are not sufficient to sweeten the cup, for there are so 
many little incidents and modes of action that do not in¬ 
volve principles, which add to, or diminish, social happiness, 
that the best-meaning people in the world are not always 
those who make the domestic circle happiest, or who are 
easiest and pleasantest to live with. It is one of the 
greatest trials that can be met with, when we are compelled, 
in the providence of God, to be dependant upon any one; 
but most, most afflictive is it, when a parent is thrown upon 
the support of a child; and on this account, I cannot but 
hold it an unnatural clause in the great poor-law system, to 
refuse relief to aged persons, when they have children who 
are considered able to maintain them. We have scriptural 
warrant for saying “ the children ought not to lay up for 
the parents, but the parents for the childrenand when 
w'o have a Bible proof of the right or wrong of any matter 
whatsoever, we should be therewith content. 
John Day is an aged blacksmith, and he very plainly 
sets forth, in his experience, the miseries of the system 
against which 1 am protesting. He has brought up a 
numerous family, of whom two sons are in the Guards, 
and one was brought up to his own business. Day was a hard¬ 
working man, but he could not teach his children anything 
more than he himself knew, nor give them light and know¬ 
ledge which he did not himself possess. It is a melancholy 
case when parents know not how to instruct their offspring. 
1 do not mean in worldly things, because most people can do 
that. Day could teach his son to smite the anvil, and shoe 
a horse, as well as any one; but he could not teach him to 
love and fear God, or to act upon scriptural principles, 
which alone are able to bring forth real fruit. Young 
people may show buds of promise in their early walk and 
conversation ; but unless there is the water of life at their 
root, these will be nothing but canker in the ilower. 
Day lost his wife, and became old and feeble. He w'anted 
to be quiet and comfortable for tho rest of his life, and get 
rid of the everlasting hammer; so, in an evil hour, against 
the advice and entreaties of his other sons, he gave up his 
business to the one who had worked with him, upon the 
understanding that he was to live in his house, and receive 
five shillings a week, in return for resigning the business 
into his child’s hands. 
