304 EDITOR'S BOX. [Feb., 



"With reference to the laying off of jnain roads in extensive 

 enclosures, I think had ' Loanleah ' been under the necessity of 

 opening up and forming these in a young plantation of large extent, 

 he also would acquiesce in my recommendation. I do not mean, 

 however, to recommend that the necessary expenditure to make 

 them suthcient for the heavy traffic they may ultimately require to bear 

 be undertaken when the plantation is formed. I think that would 

 be a most needless and unwise proceeding. It is quite time enough 

 to do so when the roads are ret^uired for the purpose of removing 

 the thinnings. What I recommended was : ' that they be marked off 

 and left unplanted ; and when the weather was unsuitable for plant- 

 ing such as frosty mornings and evenings, during a short suspension 

 by a snowstorm, that the hands employed might with advantage be 

 occupied in forming these roadways ; ' i. e., removing abrupt heights, 

 making up hollows, and cutting the track where it crosses declivities : 

 in short, to make it passable, ' Loanleah,' instead of thus employing 

 the hands, would leave a portion of the ground undrained on wliich 

 to do so, thus draining and planting at almost one and the same time ; 

 a practice which, in my opinion, cannot be recommended. 



Main roads can, in my opinion, only be planned to advantage wlien 

 the ground is bare, and the lie of the ground can be properly seen ; and 

 those who know their work fairly well do not require to wait for two 

 or three years' growth of the plants to be able to detect the prrts on 

 which they will not make progress equal to that of some of the 

 other parls. These portions can generally be indicated before a plant 

 is inserted, and the roads diverted that way if wished. In planning 

 main roads, however, the object for which they are ultimately intended, 

 viz., the removal of the crop, should be kept clearly in view, and in 

 no case, in my opinion, should a deviation from the right course be 

 made unless the difference in expense be very considerable. The 

 offshots or branch roads need not be opened up until required for 

 the removal of the thinnings. They might then be laid off so as to 

 pass through at least some of the parts to whicli ' Loanleah ' 

 refers. 



"Well laid off and well constructed roads do not only adorn, but 

 also enrich forest lands. The crop in a forest with such roads is of 

 much more value than that in a forest with roads badly or in- 

 differently laid off and constructed. Hence the necessity and 

 importance of lapng off all main roads in such a manner as will 

 afford the best facilities for the speedy and cheap transit of the crop ; 

 and, I repeat, this can only be done, in extensive enclosures, before 

 planting begins. 



Pioadways, even in tlie worst situations, sufficient for the purpose, 

 should be made at considerably less expense than wliat ' Loanleah' 



