BRICK PATHS IN THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 22484, 31 October 1936, Page 23

BRICK PATHS IN THE GARDEN

Bricks of mellow hue harmonise well with the flower colours in a garden. Paths and pavings of brickwork can be given additional interest by arranging the bricks to a design (says ‘ Popular Gardening,’ London). In choosing bricks for use in a garden, try and obtain those that are a warm reddish-brown. Some of the socalled 11 rustic ” bricks are of good colour, but avoid any that are harsh red or purple. If any old buildings are being demolished in your neighbourhood yon may be able to obtain some of those warm and brightly-coloured bricks to which time has given such an attractive 'tone. Bricks for paths must not be of a soft or friable nature. Some will break just by knocking them together, and it will be found that these ar® often pink or yellow and very porous. Good bricks should make a ringing noise when struck. When second-hand bricks are bought make inquiries as to whether they are cleaned of mortar and not unduly chipped. As a rule it is not difficult to scrape bricks clean of mortar if it is lime mortar, for this is soft and crumbling. Most modern brickwork has at least a percentage of cement added to the mortar, which makes it almost impossible to remove without

damage. It is therefore well to make certain before buying that bricks can be easily cleaned. The size of a brick is about 9in long, Sfin thick, and 4iin wide. In garden paths the bricks are laid either on edge, that is, on the Sin by 2|in face, or ilat, on tne Sin by 4Jin face. The latter method requires fewer bricks to oover a given space. Bricks lend themselves to the formation of a number of attractive designs. In the chess board design three bricks on edge (or two flat) comprise each square, brick joints in alternate squares running at right angles. In a herringbone pattern the bricks are laid diagonally to a zig-zag arrangement. Broken bricks can De readily formed into designs suitable for the junction of paths or bends in a path.