FOREST- KO ADS. 317 



pass ; wherever logs are trau sported, the breadth of the road 

 must be increased at all turnings, or where curves run round 

 projecting rocks. Otherwise logs must be fastened along the 

 edge of the road on which the projecting ends of logs dragged on 

 small sledges may slide. 



In the case of narrow sledge-roads with steep gradients passing 

 with curves over precipitous ground, accidents are avoided by 

 placing logs along the edge of the road, which touch one another 

 at their ends and are kept in place by piles or props. 



(i) Maintenance of Roads. — Wherever there is heavy traffic, 

 roads suffer much damage, by the use of breaks, &c. ; in 

 mountains the rain-water brings down silt and landslips, and 

 may inundate the roads at certain points, so that their surface 

 is constantly being degraded. Continual prompt maintenance 

 and repairs, improvement of the drainage of the road and 

 filling-up all holes and ruts are therefore necessary. Kepairs to 

 roads, therefore, require almost as much attention as their 

 construction. The chief rule is not to allow any damage to get 

 the upper hand, but to commence repairing it as soon as the 

 weather is dry. It is often advantageous to entrust the repairs 

 of the roads to trustworthy woodcutters. 



[in France there is a separate class of guards employed iu the 

 State forests and termed ' f/ardes cantonniers,^ each of whom is 

 entrusted with the repairs of so many miles of road, both working 

 himself and supervising the other labourers. — Tr.] 



In many forests it is customary to place a bar across roads after 

 the season's transport is over, in order to protect them from ex- 

 traneous traffic. The possibility of doing this depends on the 

 nature of the forest rights and other local circumstances. As a 

 rule, such a practice does more harm than good to the forest. 

 Koads should be open to traffic, and the more they are used and 

 injured by the traffic, the more useful they are, and the higher 

 the net-revenue of the forest will be. 



2. Mode of Conveyance. 

 The conveyance of the converted wood along rolds to the 

 collecting or sale depots is effected either by men or beasts. 



