554 ^^^ youi'iial of Forestry. 



and the less its chances of remaining firmly imbedded in the road- 

 way. 



Stone in a very dry state possesses less power of resisting attrition 

 than when damp, or only moderately wet, as its elasticity is then 

 much less ; hence the necessity for watering roads in dry weather. 

 And, paradoxical as the statement may appear, at no time of the year 

 does a liberal watering do more good than at the time when a hard 

 frost breaks up without rain. The watering raises a sludge, which 

 may easily be scraped or swept off with the smallest amount of 

 injury to tlie road. An old roadman, of wonderful sagacity and 

 great powers of observation, assured tlie writer that what he most 

 dreaded on the breaking up of a frost was the passage of a fxock of 

 sheep over his roads. Whoever has followed under such circum- 

 ■ stances may have observed that the sheep pick up with their feet and 

 disintegrate the entire surface. 



For cleaning roads, the brush is much to be preferred to the scraper, 

 as the latter drags up all small loose stones, and thus prepares the 

 way for the percolation of water through the upper stratum. 



The drainage of roads is a matter of primary importance, and 

 should be secured at any reasonable outlay. Good open ditches 

 along the sides of roads afford the most effectual means of doing this. 

 They should be of sufficient depth, and so arranged as to carry off 

 the water from the bottom of the road as well as from its surface. 

 Under all circumstances, they are better placed on the field side of 

 the hedgerows, and not between these and the road; for, besides the 

 danger to travellers in narrow roads, ditches are liable to constant 

 filling in and derangement by the traific. One great advantage of 

 placing the ditch on the field side is that in pastures the hedge is 

 so much more out of the reach of cattle. In many parts of Kent, at 

 the present time, nules of roadside ditches are being filled up by the 

 passing of traction engines. Into the open side ditches, drains either 

 of pipes or stone should discharge the water from the foundations of 

 the road. Where a roadway runs along the slope of a hill, a pipe or 

 stone drain should be laid at a good depth on its upper side, and the 

 water carried to the lower side by cross drains running under the 

 road. 



A road once properly constructed should never be allowed to wear 

 into deep ruts so as to lodge water, for immediately these are formed 

 all the traffic runs along them, and the road is soon cut tlirough. By 

 keeping these well filled in, an even wearing of the whole road is 

 secured, and the cost of maintenance is greatly diminished. The 

 accumulation of dirt also keeps the road in such a sodden state that 

 wear and tear are greatly accelerated. 



Where there is a choice of road materials, granite, quartz, basalt, 



