50 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



characteristics of good roads, how they are to be constructed or 

 improved and properly maintained, wherein lie our deficiencies and 

 in what way these may be remedied — and finally, to what extent 

 and in what manner the aesthetic principles are to govern. 



The characteristics of a properly constructed and well laid-out 

 road consist in a road-bed presenting a uniform, smooth, and level 

 surface, with a slight convexity at the centre, of a firmness sufficient 

 to sustain the weight of heavy loads without yielding, of a longitu- 

 dinal grade not exceeding the minimum possible under the circum- 

 stances, of a width commensurate with the amount of travel and 

 the proximity to a populous centre, and of a course as direct as 

 practicable from one given point to another. 



In order to secure the first desiderata, viz., the requisite firmness 

 and smoothness, there must be the most thorough drainage, no 

 matter of what material the road-bed is constructed. Through neg- 

 lect of this most essential point, the result of a false economy, the 

 building of a road often proves an entire failure. In all cases, both 

 surface and under-drainage must be provided, necessitating of course 

 the construction of proper culverts, embankments, and ditches ; the 

 first pro\dding against damage from the rainfall, and the latter 

 against excess of water in the road-bed or in the soil beneath. 



Modern experience has taught that the best roads are those con- 

 structed according to the plans of Mr. Telford, in England, and 

 which consist of two component parts — a foundation, and a super- 

 structure. The foundation is made up of broken stones of the di- 

 mension of about twelve inches, laid lengthways across the road, 

 and their interstices filled with broken fragments, with a slight lat- 

 eral inclination from the centre. 



The superstructure consists of an even layer of stones broken 

 into angular fragments of not more than two and one-half inches in 

 diameter, and forming a depth of between three and four inches. 

 Over this is to be spread a coating of fine gravel, which having been 

 well moistened, is to be rolled until it presents a perfectly smooth 

 and level surface. Whatever may be the materials used for the 

 superstructure, the foundation, such as we have described, is indis- 

 pensable. 



As regards the proper longitudinal grade of a road-bed, it is im- 

 possible to give 9.ny fixed rules that are applicable under all cir- 

 cumstances. 



" We can better afford to increase the length of a road consider- 



