A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

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GR A 270 GRE
sized marbles, and about one-fourth of
it must be much smaller. If a portion
of clay is by nature or art incorporated
with the gravel, it will bind more firmly,
and present when rolled a more compact
and even surface.
The following is an excellent plan to
make or turn gravel walks in d ry weather.
If of a sandy or gravelly nature strew a
little clay or marl upon the walks. When
turned ovei take away all large stones,
and place them at the bottom of the
mass. Immediately after you have levelled
the walk apply the roller, and let
an assistant follow, pouring upon it water
from a watering pot with coarse rose
in twenty-four hours after, if the weather
is dry, it will be as solid as a stone
floor. The writer has had ocular de-
monstration of the fact in twenty instances
in the driest weather. Gard.
Chron.
The best method of extirpating grass
which springs up from beneath a gravel
walk and spreads over its surface, is to
break up the walk, and pick out carefully
all the under-ground runners which
may be met with. Where it is not desirable
to disturb the walk, the best
way is to spread salt in considerable
quantities over its whole surface ; and
if after the first application it is found
that portions of the grass still exist, let
another coating of salt be applied,
which will effectually destroy it. Care
must be taken, however, if the walk
is edged with box, that the salt does
not come in contact with it, otherwise
it will destroy the edging also.
" In the early part of April, gravel
walks are usually turned ; and practice
has taught that there is a right as well
as a wrong way, even for the performance
of this simple operation. After
the walk has been broken up and levelled,
and a facing of new gravel spread
over, this ought to be left for three or
four days, and until a shower of rain
has fallen, before the roller is used.
This bleaches the gravel, and washes
down the fine particles, so that, immediately
after rolling, the walk is solid,
and has a clean bright surface."
Chron.
Gard.
Dr. Lindley has proposed a substitute
for gravel in the construction of
walks, which will get rid of most of
the annoyances attendant upon gravel;
for, formed of this material, they will
never be troubled by worms or weeds,
;
—
and will never require rolling. They
may be made of the same arched form ;
and if, at the time of making, the surface
be sprinkled with fine bright coloured
gravel, they will be as handsome as if
formed entirely of that material.
The composition recommended must
be made and laid down in perfectly dry
weather.
" Procure a quantity of road-sand, or
similar powdery material—finely sifted
lime-rubbish will do—and let it be thoroughly
dried, so that it feels like dust
when handled : also sift out ofthe cinders
from the dwelling-house, &c., the finer
parts, and let these be also made perfectly
dry ; mix these carefully, two
parts road-sand to one of ashes. In a
dry place, on a dry day, spread a quantity
of the mixture, as a bricklayer
spreads his lime, with a hollow in the
middle. Into this hollow pour some
coal-tar, boiling hot. Incorporate the
whole with a shovel, as if making mor-
tar, and when a thick paste, spread it
three or four inches thick over the
ground, laid out for the walk or floor.
The ground should previously be beaten
down as firm and as level as possible.
Powder it all over with dry and rather
coarse sand, after which a few passages
of the roller wiH press it level. Leave
it for a few days to harden, after which
the walk is fit for use, and will last for
very many years." Gard. Chron.
GREAT BURNET. Sanguisorba.
GREAT CENTAUREA. Centaurea
centaurium.
GREEN-HOUSE. This is a winterresidence
for plants that cannot endure
the cold of our winter, yet do not require
either the high temperature or
moist atmosphere of a stove [i. e. hothouse]
.
" The first thing to be attended to in
its construction," says Mr. H. Fortune,
of the Chiswick Gardens, " is the choice
of a proper situation. South is the best
aspect, or as nearly that as possible :
south-west or south-east will do, or even
east or west ; but on no account should
it ever face the north. Green-houses
should be fixed in situations where they
will not be shaded from the sun by any
part of the dwelling-house, or other
buildings, and should also be quite free
from large trees. They should not
be placed near trees for another reason
than being shaded by them, namely,
the glass in the roof being apt to be