FARM ROADS. 71 



evaporation : hence the utility of keeping road-side hedges 

 low. The making and maintenance of occupation roads are 

 an important branch of estate management, which deserves 

 much greater attention than it usually obtains. "We hope 

 to see the young surveyor devote some of his energy to this 

 important branch of his profession, which will well repay 

 his study and attention. 



It is only necessary to add that a good road connecting 

 the homestead with the nearest public road is essential to 

 the economical management of every farm. It should be 

 at least 12 feet wide. And besides this, access should be 

 had by good 10-foot roads to all arable fields : the lines of 

 such roads being so laid out as to give this access by 

 means of the most direct route, and therefore the shortest 

 length. 



Tramways. Having had considerable experience in the 

 reclamation and cultivation of peat land, we have found 

 the use of a light portable railway with small trucks a 

 very great convenience. Where the ground is level three 

 or four of the loaded trucks can be pushed about by a 

 couple of men, and manure can be spread from the trucks 

 where required, and in the same way can be farm produce 

 collected, and removed to sound land. This is a sort of 

 road communication which might be advantageously 

 extended to strong lands, both for manuring and for 

 carrying the root crops. Under skilful culture the best of 

 root crops can be grown on strong land ; but under the 

 usual system they can neither be consumed on the land, 

 nor removed without great injury to the soil. By the use 

 of such a portable railway they can be taken off, without 

 'injury, either to yards or dry fields for consumption. 



