WALKS. Walks, drives and roadways, in the vicinity of the farm or rural dwelling, should be so carefully made that they are good at all times, and should approach as directly to the object sought as possible, and without unnecessary curves, especially short ones. Within the house place, curved lines are admissible and beautiful, and here much elaboration may be spent, and once decided on they must be carefully formed and carefully kept. for nothing looks so slovenly as weedy, untidy, half-formed walks or drives through the grounds or garden. Thus unneces sary walks and roads should always be avoided. ln relation to walks and roads on the farm, but specially about the homestead: It is true that the beauty of curved lines sometimes prompts to a deviation from the more available direct course; and, where it can be done without too great sacrifice of utility, it is not objection able. But no walk should be turned from its obvious direct course without an apparently sufficient reason . A change of level in the ground, a tree or a group of plants, or other similar obstruction, will induce, and seemingly demand, a change of line. There are many locations where the straight line should be pre ferred as a matter of taste in design. Xs a con necting- link between the strictly horizontal and the perpendicular lines of a building, and the irregular surfaces surrounding it, a perfectly straight walk is in the best taste and adds greatly to the effect of the architecture, while a fre quently curving walk detracts from it. So also, a walk along the side of a straight boundary fence should not curve if both lines are visible at the same time. Most persons are aware of the great beauty of straight walks and avenues of trees; and for public parks of lesser order, en closed by formal outlines, they can always be introduced with great effect, as well as conven ience. where curving walks would be the reverse. In this case beauty depends upon harmony rather than contrast, and more than either upon utility.
INThen roads or walks are carried over irregular surfaces, the natural turns and windings neces sary to follow an easy or uniform grade, and keep as near the original surface of the ground as possible, -will usually develop pleasing curves. A little studied attention in this matter of the course of a road will not only increase the beauty of curves by adding to them the grace of utility, but also deep and expensive cuttings, as well as heavy embankments, will be avoided, and easy grades and economical construction be more certainly secured. When it is necessary to branch a secondary road from the main line, it should leave the latter at as nearly a right angle as con venient, and at the same time be somewhat nar rower, so that its appearance may convey the proper idea of its being subordinate, and so avoid confusion and mistake; otherwise the roads leading to the stable, ice house, or garden, may be mistaken for the road to the mansion. Under no circumstances should walks be made conspicuous in views of natural scenery. If it is essentially necessary that a walk should cross a lawn where it would interrupt a continuity of view, and destroy breadth of effect, it should be sunk beneath the line of vision by placing it in a slight exeavation, which may be further assisted by throwing up a small mound on the side near est the point of view. These expedients, as also that of planting thick groups of low-growing shrubs, will be effective and satisfactory if prop erly executed. In laying out curving roads it is not advisable to closely follow geometrical rules, or to set the curves out to any regular radius. This plan niay occasionally prove perfectly satis factory on a strictly level surface, but it will have quite .an opposite effect where the ground is greatly undulating. The curves, to be pleasing, must be attractive—not too sudden or abrupt— aud properly blended at their points of junctions. Very much of personal comfort and pleasure in rural residences depends upon good roads.