350 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



the centre the highest point and slope both ways to the side drains, with a 

 drive-way on each side of the center for convenience of travel, benefit to 

 the roadway, and ease of repairing ; it being much easier to run your road 

 grader or leveler over the traveled portion when one side of the center, for 

 two reasons: first, you have less distance to move the earth necessary for 

 repairs, and second, having two drive-ways neither are so apt to be cut up, 

 the travel being divided. 



DBAIKAGE. 



In forming a road bed in heavy soil or in flat lands, the all important ques- 

 tion to be considered is the provision for thorough drainage ; without which 

 we need look for no encouraging results. But with such drains good roads 

 can be made on any of our lands of this character. I would much prefer 

 to attempt to make a good road on these soils than upon the sandy lands of our 

 county. These sandy lands baffle my skill in engineering so far as applied to 

 the construction of our common roads. But upon the heavy soils and on flat 

 lands good and sufficient side drains should be constructed on each side of 

 the passage way, and cut to a grade so as to be at least two and one-half feet 

 below the lowest portion of the road bed and of sufficient size to conduct the 

 water from the adjoining lands as well as from the road surface. The larger 

 drain should be constructed on the upper side of the road and should have 

 an even and constant descent to some natural or constructed water conrse. 

 As a superabundance of water is the most persistent foe of good roads, the 

 roadmaster or overseer will make it his first and paramount duty to totally 

 rout and drive it from the field and road side, leaving no lurking place for 

 stagnant pools. While so much for the good of our common roads may be 

 accomplished by this thorough system of drainage, we should in every other 

 way assist nature to assist us. This may be done in discouraging the planting 

 of shade trees, as is now provided for by statute along the border of our com- 

 mon roads, which will in time obstruct the rays of the sun and a free circu- 

 . latiou of the wind, which is very essential to the maintaining of good roads- 

 on these heavy soils. A few trees may be permited, but they should be eight 

 or ten rods apart on this kind of soil. 



SANDY ROADS. 



The same rules will apply in their construction, save perhaps that where 

 clay can be had by carting two or three miles, one track on the right hand 

 side of the alignment of the road leading to the market place could be cov- 

 ered with clay to the depth of six or eight inches, and held in place by the 

 piking of sand. And on this kind of soil you may plant all the shade trees 

 you please with good results, as the sand, if kept moist, is better adapted 

 • to good roads than when dry. In this class of roads I would recommend 

 that the shade trees be planted upon the alignment of the road and the 

 drive-way on each side, with a foot path on the alignment. 



GRADE. 



It is well known that a team will draw no more produce to market than 

 they will draw up the steepest hill on the route. Therefore the grade of the- 



