Farm Roads on Strong Soils. 



85 



homestead, the shape of the farm, its divisional fields, and the 

 form and physical condition of its surface and soils. 



With respect to the transverse formation or section of roads 

 much may be said which will be found applicable to all roads, 

 but more especially to those in clay districts. In fact, to illustrate 

 in any general terms the art of making farm-roads in clay districts, 

 it would appear only necessary to exhibit the transverse or cross 

 section, for, as already stated, the longitudinal section or profile 

 will, in nearly every case, have been determined beforehand by 

 local features. The judgment of the road-maker then will be 

 confined to securing an unyielding hardness of surface with the 

 least amount of material, — an even smoothness of surface with the 

 least amount of labour, — and the utmost durability consistent 

 with the object in view. 



The following section and rules will indicate how these objects 

 may be attained. 



-Inch Pipe. 



1st. The road should be perfectly drained by means of surface 

 ditches, as A A, on each side of the formation, and of under- 

 drains, as D D, on each side of the metalling. 



2nd. The formation should be 18 feet wide, at least, between 

 the inner edges of the surface ditches, i. e. from C to C. 



3rd. The surface ditches A A should be at least 18 inches 

 deep, with good and sufficient batter or side slopes. They should 

 have sufficient fall towards existing watercourses to discharge 

 freely all water that may run into them, and pipe-culverts 

 protected by end gratings should be provided at all gateways 

 opening to the road. 



4th. The metalling should be 9 feet wide at least, i. e. from 

 B to B. 



5th. The under-drains D D should be dug 4 feet deep at least, on 

 each side of the metalling, laid with 2-inch pipes, and connected 

 with the culverts or drains crossing the road at every fence and 

 every hollow in the ground, and these cross culverts or drains 

 should be laid so low in connection with existing ditches (to be 

 deepened if necessary for the purpose^ that the crown of the 



