PRACTICAL PAPERS—COUNTRY ROADS. 
279 
bed raised by repeated plowings, the furrows all being turned 
toward the center of the road. In case the natural surface has 
a slope to one side, the execution can still be mainly and most 
economically performed by the use of the plow, by turning 
the furrows in one direction. The plow should be what is 
called a “double right and left-hand plow,” which maybe 
used with great advantage. When the desired grade of the 
surface of the road and gutters shall have been produced, as 
nearly as practicable, by the use of the plow, it should then 
receive repeated harrowings. The remainder of the work may 
be most economically and efficiently performed by means of 
the grading machine, except the removal of considerable hills, 
or the filling of corresponding depressions, which, if the dis¬ 
tance is short, may be best performed by the use of the com¬ 
mon scraper; but, if it exceeds five or six rods, wheelbarrows, 
carts, or dump-wagons will be necessary. ISTo hand grading is 
necessary, as the grader, propelled by a pair of active horses, 
will perform more of this character of work than fifty men, and 
at the same time do it better. 
The width of such gravel road will, of course, be controlled 
by circumstances, the amount of travel and the character of it 
being the most important considerations. It may be remarked, 
however—and it is equally applicable to all roads, of whatever 
material:—that they should not be made wider than is really 
necessary, otherwise the cost is greatly increased, as well as 
the difficulty of surface drainage, which, as was remarked, in 
connection with Macadam road, is of great importance. A 
rod constructed of natural gravel, and having a gravel sub¬ 
soil, will require to be raised less in the center, and the side 
gutters may be made more shallow than would be admissible 
with any other material. 
Rotten Rock .—This material is frequently found, in a natural 
state, quite well adapted to forming a road that will serve all 
the purposes for which earth and gravel roads are adapted. It 
rarely has a proper degree of tenacity, however, to enable it to 
bind, or retain desirable compactness. 
When this material lacks tenacity the defect is easily cor- 
