SUDIJKBAN IIESIDEXCKS. 49 



gardens are placed in rows parallel to the road, the direction of the road is of 

 the utmost consequence with reference to the enjoj'ment of sunshine. Where 

 the road is in the direction of the prevailing winds of the country, the dust, in 

 summer, will he blown in the direction of that road, and will consequently 

 prove a mych greater annoyance to the traveller, than where the road is in a 

 direction contrary to that of the wind. About London, the prevailing winds 

 are from the west, or from the east ; and hence the roads to Edgeware, Hamp- 

 stead, &c., on the north, and to Epsom, Croydon, &c., on the south, are much 

 less disagreeable to travel on than those to Uxbridge and Brentford, or in 

 the Essex direction. The dust from the roads running north and south is 

 blown off them into the fields; whereas in the roads running east and west, 

 whether the wind is in the east or in the west, the dust is blown along 

 them. It must not be forgotten, however, that those roads which have the 

 dust blown from them are the least eligible for having small houses and 

 gardens placed close to them, as the dust from the road is blown upon such 

 houses and gardens. The road which is most covered with dust in summer 

 will be most covered with mud in winter, unless the dust be removed when it 

 is first turned into mud. The wetness of the surface of a road during winter, 

 all other circumstances being the same, will be great in proportion as it is in 

 the direction of the wind, and is shaded from the sun. Hence, about London, 

 those roads which are in the direction of east and west are decidedly the 

 wettest during winter ; because they are in the direction of the prevailing 

 winds, which blow the moisture along them as the dust was blown in summer, 

 instead of blowing it off them ; and because they are all more or less shaded 

 by fences, houses, and trees on the south side. Hence, also, the houses on 

 the sides of roads which run east and west, ought to be placed farther from 

 them than is necessary in the case of roads running north and south. A road 

 which runs east and west affords shade to the pedestrian at least till between 

 two and three o'clock of every day throughout the year ; so that a citizen 

 whose residence is along such a road may always walk to town in the shade ; 

 while, on the other hand, if, during the six months of summer, he returns 

 from town to his residence between three and six o'clock, he will have the 

 sun full in his face. A road in the direction of north and south affords shade 

 to the pedestrian early in the morning, and in the evening ; but, on going to 

 town during the day along the road from his house in the north suburbs, the 

 traveller will have the sun full in his face ; while on going to town along a 

 rt)ad from the south suburbs, it will be on his back. These remarks apply 

 strictly to roads which are straight, and which have no other objects along 

 them to produce shade but fences 8 ft. or 10 ft. high; but, where the 

 roads are winding, and bordered by trees or houses, or both, the influence of 

 the sun is in a great measure neutralised ; and, as far as respects the enjoy- 

 ment of shade, roads in different directions will be nearly equaj. The same 

 remarks will also apply with respect to dust being blown along the road, or 

 off the road ; since, if we imagine the road in a serpentine or zigzag direction, 

 the wind, from whatever quarter it may come, will blow the dust alternately 

 off the road, and along the road. Nothing, however, can be more certain 

 than this, that, in the climate of Britain, all roads and walks in the direction 

 of north and south are much sooner dried after being wet, and much more 

 comfortable to travel on in winter, than roads in the direction of east and 

 west. This may be observed even in the streets of towns in the winter 



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