250 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



the road, are essential; it makes little difference of what mate- 

 rial the roadbed is made, a good driveway will be assured. 



A good roof must be secured by proper grading. This 

 grading should be done in the spring, for then the earth is soft 

 and easily moved; the summer's travel will pack it firmly, mak- 

 ing it resistant to the effects of water and frost. The familiar 

 wheel-grader, pulled by either horses or a traction engine, and 

 so directed that the dirt from the sides of the road is gradually 

 worked up into the center, is the most effective tool for the pur- 

 pose. We have all, no doubt, seen grading done where sticks, 

 stones, sod and trash of all kinds were shoved up into the middle 

 of the road and left there in the vain hope that it would all wear 

 down into a smooth and solid surface. All such trash should 

 be hauled to a place where it will at least do no harm, for if al- 

 lowed to stand in the road, most of it will find its way back into 

 the ditches and obstruct the flow of water. A roadbed cannot 

 be made out of sod. 



There must be a gentle slope from the middle to each side 

 of the road, not so steep as to cause inconvenience to one driving 

 out to one side with a load, but just steep enough to carry the 

 water down into the side ditch. A rise of one inch to a foot is 

 sufficient. On steep grades, a greater slope will be necessary, else 

 the water will run down the road instead of into the ditch. 



There is a very simple tool, concerning which much has been 

 said during recent years, which may be used in obtaining a good 

 roof and the necessary grade. This is the King Road Drag. Mr. 

 King, the inventor of the drag, lives in Missouri where mile 

 after mile of good roads are made of earth. 



If a surface made of earth is kept sufficiently smooth and 

 given a little grade, water falling on the surface will immediately 

 run off. This desired surface and grade may be secured by the 

 use of the road drag. Once the proper grade is secured, the 

 drag is drawn over the road at more or less frequent intervals 

 depending upon the condition of weather and traffic. The aim 

 is to maintain a surface that will drain off all water as fast as it 

 falls. 



