The Construction and Maintenance of Roads. 617 



are pipe drains laid along both sides of the road, at a depth 

 of not less than 18 in. or 2 ft. below its foundations, and discharging 

 their water into the side ditches P P. The spaces between the pipes 

 and the road foundation are filled up with rough broken stone. B b 

 is a raised footpath, which should be placed upon the highest ground, 

 having its surface somewhat above the centre of the roadway. Where 

 practicable the water-table, A a, is best upon the S., S.E. or S.W. 

 side of the road. Upon land of good quality it may not be con- 

 sidered advisable to have open ditches. In such cases good pipe 

 drains may be covered in and become carriers for the road- water, and 

 also for that from the adjoining lands, where the slope of the ground 

 will permit this. 



One great advantage of having a ditch vipon the field side of the 

 hedge is that it enables the fence to be cropped low, and thus sun and 

 air are admitted. Again, where the ditches are close to the road, and 

 large stone is laid on, much of it continues in motion till it finds its 

 way into the ditches. 



The only drawback to the general use of finely broken stone is the 

 cost of manual labour. But in these days of steam, when traction 

 engines are largely used for delivering road stone, why should it not 

 also be crushed by steam-power ? One of Blake's stone-breakers, 

 manufactured by Marsden, of Leeds, costing about £240, and driven 

 by an engine of 8-horse power, will break down 6 cubic yards of the 

 hardest stone per hour ; and though the cost of construction of such 

 a road as we are recommending may be a somewhat heavy item, the 

 expense of its maintenance will be reduced to a minimum. 



Before proceeding to lay out main clearance roads and wood rides, 

 there are several points requiring careful consideration. Among 

 these may be enumerated the following : — 1 . To afford the greatest 

 possible facilities to the proprietor and the wood buyer for effecting a 

 clearance. Before bidding for a lot the latter will be certain to dis- 

 count it heavily for all its disadvantages of removal, as well as for 

 any unnecessary restrictions which may be imposed. 2. A complete 

 subdivision and consequent perfect ventilation of the whole wood. 

 8. The exclusion, as far as is practicable, of all destructive winds pre- 

 valent in that locality, by opening roads transversely to the direction 

 of their currents,. 4. To cause all secondary roads to converge upon 

 the main ones at convenient points, l)y which means the whcle or 

 any portion of the wood will be divided into parts resembling the 

 sectors of a circle, which will enable the sportsman to beat from the 

 outsides to the central points. 5. Where possible, to cause the rides 

 to diverge towards prominent distant objects of interest, whether 

 natural or artificial, such as a mountain, a hanging wood, a mansion, 

 church, windmill, &c. 6. To bring within view any bsauties of the 



