Use Materials Close at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

There is no "best" type of road surface to fit all conditions. The highway engineer should use materials close at hand, if possible, and design the road so as to make the best use of available materials. Factors affecting the design are the volume of traffic, weight of vehicles, climate, and character of the soil on which the road is to be built.

The shafts of tools can be made from several different materials, including wood, metal, and plastic. Wood is traditional and long-lasting. Make sure that the wood of the shaft is close-grained and that the grain runs down the length of the shaft. Check that it is smooth and not likely to splinter. Shafts made from polypropylene are lightweight yet strong, and lighter tools such as hoes and rakes are often equipped with tubular aluminum alloy shafts which are coated with plastic. All three materials will offer a good service if they are not ill-treated.

French Holidays (all business closes) New Year's Day; Easter Mon-l day; Ascension Day (Thursday, 40 days after Easter); Whitmonday1 (7 weeks after Easter); Bastille Day (July 14), the big national holiday, with dancing in the streets and fireworks and fun; Assumption Day (Aug. 15); All Saints' Day (Nov. 1); Armistice Day (Nov. 11); Christmas Day. And remember that during the whole month of August Paris shops are at least moribund. Most of them close entirely and post a sign to that effect; Fermeture Annuelle. Hundreds of restaurants also close for all of August Throughout the year, many high-grade shops close on Saturdays, while many small ones and popular ones close on Mondays.