A glance at the plan, fig. 52. in p. 522., will show that I have provided as great an extent of gravel walk as the space would admit of; the total length, including the walk round the flower-garden, exceeding a mile. There is a straight broad walk in the centre, as a main feature from the principal entrance; an intersecting broad and straight walk to form a centre to the garden, and to constitute a point of radiation to all the other walks; and there is a winding walk surrounding the whole. As a straight walk without a terminating object is felt to be deficient in meaning, a statue on a pedestal is proposed for the radiating centre i in fig. 52.; a pedestal, with a vase, urn, or other object, for the second circle in the straight walk fig. 52. k; while the pavilions fig. 54. form terminating objects to the broad cross walk. As a terminal object gives meaning to a straight walk leading to it, so it is only by creating artificial obstructions that meaning can be given to a winding walk over a flat surface. These obstructions may either be inequalities in the ground, or the occurrence of trees or shrubs in the line which the walk would otherwise have taken, so as to force it to bend out of that line. Both these resources have been employed in laying down the direction of the surrounding walk, though its deviation from a straight line has chiefly been made in conformity with the varying position of the trees in the belt already existing. This belt, and also the trees in the flower-garden, and in other parts of the plan, which were there previously to commencing operations, and which are left conformably to Mr. Strutt's instructions, are shown in the plan fig. 55. p. 536. The point of junction of one walk with another is always noticeable in an artistical point of view, and affords an excuse for putting down sculptural or other ornamental objects at these points; we have therefore placed Mr. Strutt's pedestals and vases in positions where, if they are kept properly supplied during summer with pots of flowers (the pot being placed in the inside of the vase so as not to be seen), they will form very ornamental objects; and, the names of the flowers being written conspicuously on a card, and tied round the narrow part of each vase, and the kinds of flowers changed at least once a week, they will be instructive as well as ornamental. The kinds of plants should be such as have conspicuous red or orange flowers, in order to contrast harmoniously with the masses of green foliage and grass with which they are surrounded. All the walks are drained by semicylindrical tiles laid on flat tiles in a line along the centre of the walk, and by cross drains from this line to the edges of the walk, communicating with gratings fixed in stone at regular distances. There is nearly a mile of drains, and there are 150 cast-iron gratings. The upper coating of gravel is of a good colour, brownish yellow; and, as when kept in proper order by rolling it binds very hard and smooth, the walks will be of the most dry, comfortable, durable, and agreeable description.
