206 LANDSCAPE-GARDENING 



side. It reaches the farming district along lines 

 which, though curved, are reasonably direct. The 

 distance along this highway to its destination is 

 much shorter than two straight sides of a right angle, 

 one side of which runs north and south, and the 

 other east and west. Moreover, the cost of the 

 grading, construction and maintenance of the road 

 outlined above would be far less than that of roads 

 constructed through the same country on straight 

 lines. 



THE RIVER ROAD (Fig. 47) 



A broad deep river flows southwest from another 

 large city. Within the town the river is traversed 

 by bridges, but in other places it can only be crossed 

 by boats, so that it serves as a barrier for all vehicles 

 and pedestrians. Along the left bank of this river is 

 a ridge of land of which the highest part lies just 

 above high water mark. Back of this ridge the land 

 is relatively low so that during time of extremely high 

 water it is flooded. An indigenous forest growth 

 covers the ridge and its steep banks sloping toward 

 the river and also the low land. Upon the ridge a 

 roadway has been constructed. For a traveler along 

 this roadway the woods furnish constant entertain- 

 ment. From it, at frequent intervals, and occasion- 



