374 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



ruts and deep cutting of roadbeds, with consequent clods 

 and humps. 



Drainage is also important. The rules for drainage must 

 depend upon the lay of the land. Naturally a road through 

 a flat, low country must have deeper ditches beside it than 

 in a high or rolling location. Culverts and small bridges 

 may be made of concrete, and should be large enough to 

 take care of the greatest amount of water that ever falls 

 in that region. 



Fio. 226. Road drag for surfacing roads after heavy rains. 



Shade Objectionable. Too much shade on a road pre- 

 vents its drying out after a wet spell. Dense clumps of trees 

 bordering the road should be thinned. Hedges should 

 be trimmed. Sunlight is as important to good roads as to 

 good crops. 



Wide Tires. If farmers can be persuaded to use wide- 

 tired wagons for hauling heavy loads the roads may be more 

 easily kept in repair. In some States any farmer who will 

 use such a wagon may have a certain per cent of his road 

 tax refunded. 



EXERCISES. 1. Make a map of the roads in your neigh- 

 borhood. Determine if they could be improved at any point 

 by change of grade, or change in location. Also how they 

 could be made better by drainage. 



