752 The younial of For'estry. 



moderately ovul pear, and cut it in half longitudinally, afterwards 

 placing one-half with its cut surface ilat upon the table. After mark- 

 ing points equidistant from its two ends, let him measure a Hue across 

 its centre, and another from the two central points around its end, on 

 a level with the table. The latter line will not exceed the former by 

 more than \. Apply the illustration to the case of a steep though 

 surmountable hill. In the one case of crossing, the work in overcoming 

 gravity is very great ; wliereas in the other it is reduced to a minimum. 



Since good roads are of primary importance to owners as well as 

 occupiers of land, their construction and maintenance should receive 

 more enlightened attention. The Highway Act has modified the 

 practice, and partially reformed the whole system of surveyorship. 

 Under the old method of parish apprenticeship to road-making, each 

 large ratepayer was in turn elected to the office, took over the books 

 and the balance in hand or deficit, as it might be, roughly coated 

 from the nearest stone-hole the highways in his own neighbourhood, 

 attended another parish meeting to audit his accounts, and bequeathed 

 his mantle to his successor. Thus as soon as he had obtained a little 

 insight into his work he was superseded. 



As at present constituted. Highway Boards consist largely of tenant- 

 farmers, whose interests in the roads are co-existent only with their 

 period of tenancy, and who therefore grudgingly vote the money 

 required to maintain those roads in a passable state. Under such 

 circumstances extensive permanent improvements are out of the 

 question. The only way to grapple with the difficulty in neglected 

 districts would be for landlords to take the roads in their own hands, 

 and either by their own outlay or by money borrowed, subject to repay- 

 ment in 20 years, straighten, drain, culvert, and thoroughly repair 

 them, and then recoup themselves by a slightly increased rent. Local 

 taxes upon carriages, &c., should then be devoted to road purposes ; 

 and traction-engines, in particular, should be taxed in proj^ortion to 

 their weight and the load they draw. 



Doubtless circumstances have greatly changed since 1811 ; but the 

 evidence of Mr. McAdam, given before a committee of road commis- 

 sioners, led to their embodying in their report a remark to the effect 

 that the saving to the country by putting the roads in a proper state of 

 repair would be £5,000,000 annually. But for the expense of col- 

 lection, and the opportunities aftorded for peculation, the payment of 

 tolls is, after all, the most equable system of road maintenance. 



Though the nearer the line of road approaches the level the less will 

 be the actual draught, still it is doubtful whether a horse does not 

 travel with more ease upon a road which has occasional slight inclina- 

 tions ; as the shifting of the load, and the consequent alteration of the 

 line of draught, afford temporary relief. ^Moreover, where much dirt 



