Show ROADS we may recognize the value of hard and durable roads in all parts of the country but still the fact remains that for a long time to come the majority of oc tile the roads will be ba composed of earth furthermore in ill about nine months out of the year the earth road it properly cared for is reasonably satisfactory for many agricultural dietr districts acts it is tile the only road at present available hence these communities should set themselves seriously to work to learn the best nieth methods of maintaining earth roads and of getting the maximum service from froia them prosperity comes to the cou country hilry to a great extent thru the prosperity of the farmers this tact fact strongly suggests the importance of giving the earth roads every possible care and attention in its location drainage construction and maintenance I 1 an earth load composed of water waler holding soil should be exposed to the sun still and air as freely as possible as comp comparison arlson between the shaded anil and sunny portions of such a road will easily indicate this should be accomplished complis hed by clearing a sufficient amount of trees and undergrowth away from the road it must be remembered however that sandy and gravelly roads require mol moisture sture and in these cases some shade should bo be retained furthermore trees are beneficial along river banks and on steep grades subject to washing drainage is one of tile tho most important points to consider in connection with an all earth road the majority of earth roads in all mo mountainous and hilly districts have too much drainage occasionally a road will be ie found with five ditches three in the he middle made by the horses hoots and cd by the wheels of the vehicles and nd two on the tha sides all well con strutted ted earth roads are supposed to I 1 he have no more than two ditches one I 1 on n each side of the traveled roadway keep the water out of the middle of the road by giving jt it a crown of elevation in the center of 7 xa inches above the app of the inner slope of the ditch tor for a 20 foot road and where the hills are a little sleep steep make intake the crown 10 inches with a crown with about 1 inch to the foot from the center to the sides the ditches which are often built across aaros S i ole road on oil steep steel grades to deflect the iho water will not be needed instead ot of carrying water across the road in open ditches tilo tile or concrete drain should if possible pos be provided they thay should have sufficient capacity and fall to carry the maximum amount of water that is expected to flow thru them at any ally time the capacity is increased in proportion to the fall or grade for instance 12 inch pipe laid ou on one per cent grade will carry asoo gallons per minute while the same pipe laid on a 2 per cent grade will carry 2500 gallons per minute furthermore a culvert laid flat will soon fill up while one having a good incline will keep itself clear in the maintenance of an earth road avoid the mistake of changing the natural order of things naturally the soil Is found on top and the clay on the bottom it if this order is reve rever constructing a road the result will be less satisfactory than if the soil be left at the top of the road tor for soil makes a better bedier surface to a road than clay it if the road led bed Is largely clay to start with it will bo be well to place sandy soil or clean sand on top top A covering of 6 to 10 inches of sand upon clay that persists in breaking up into deep mud holes wilt will usually be satisfactory and it sand enough be added this clay will cease to make mud it if the roadbed is composed of sand it can be imar improve 0 v |