How
to Build Garden Paths, or Walks
Instructions
From
Charles McIntish's The Practical Gardener, 1828
The
number and breadth of walks must be regulated by the quantity
of allotted ground,always bearing in mind that few and
wide walks are preferable to many narrow ones. If the
garden is small, then one good walk all about is sufficient.
If long and narrow, the cross walks should be kept to
a minimum, while six or eight-feet walks are not too wide
for the moderate-sized garden.
In
the formation of the walks the ground, if good, should
be excavated to a depth or two or three feet in order
to allow for a layer of stones, brick-bats, rubbish or
rough gravel to render the whole perfectly dry in all
seasons, as well to prevent the rising up of worms. Good
drains should be placed under the walks to carry off superfluous
water.
the
bottom thus prepared, the whole should be finished off
with the best gravel that can be procured, to a depth
of six to twelve inches - gravel of a binding nature is
best. The colour of the gravel should be of a yellowish
hue as dark gravel has not so cheerful an appearance.
Lighter coloured gravels are also the more easily tarnished
and, unless kept exceedingly well, soon look ill.
The
advantage of good gravel walks in the embellishment of
a garden is of much importance, but there are many situations
where this material is not to be procured unless at enormous
expense. Therefore recourse must be made to substitutes
which will make equally agreeable and comfortable walks
as gravel, but which may fall far short of it in terms
of beauty.
Of
these substitutes coal ash is the best, and for kitchen
garden walks may answer the desired purpose. Ashes can
be sifted and laid upon any bottom, whether prepared or
not and, if rendered dry, can make excellent walks. They
are not much affected by rain, nor are they apt to be
disturbed by frosts, nor subject to be overgrown with
weeds.
Road
sand is also a good substitute for gravel, and that procured
from roads formed of flints is the best. The walks may
be rendered dry before it is put on, in the same manner
as gravel, which will prevent the effects of worm casts,
to which walks of sand are very much subject. It should
be laid on in a a wet state approaching mortar, and rolled
down when partially dry. Walks of this sort are easily
kept clear of weeds and are neat and clean during summer.
In autumn and winter they become soft and unpleasant,
and are apt to become overgrown with various species of
mosses.
