Show t i J f CARE OF EARTH ROADS Treatment of a Clay Roadbed Differs Differ from One Composed of Sand On clay roads a thin layer lajer of sand gravel or ashes will prevent the stickIng sticking stick stick- Ing of cIa clay to the roller or to the tho wheels of vehicles Clay soils solis as a arule arule rule absorb water quite freel freely and soft soften n when saturated but water does not pass through them readily When used alone clay is Is' Is the least desirable of all road materials but roads composed com com- composed post posed d of cIa clay may be created with sand sandor or small gravel from which a comparative comparatively comparatively tive hard and compact mass is formed which is nearly Impervious to water Material of this character found In the natural state commonly known as hardpan makes when properly applied a aver very solid soUd and durable road In soils soUs composed of a mixture of ot sand gravel and clay all aIt that is necessary to make a good road Is to crown the surface and keep the ruts and holes filled and the ditches open and free While clay alone never m makes kes a good road except in dry weather sand alone never makes a good road except In wet The more the drainage of a sand road Is Improved the more deplorable becomes its condition Nothing Nothing Noth Noth- ing will ruin one quicker than to dig diga a ditch on each side and drain all aU the water away The best w way ay therefore to make such a road firm is to keep it constantly damp This can be done by planting shade trees along Its sides to prevent the evaporation of water or by growing upon the surface of such sand roads a thick turf preferably Bermuda grass Roads running through loose sand may be Improved by mixIng mixing mixIng mix- mix Ing clay with the sand and slightly crowning the surface For the temporary Improvement of at earth or sand roads any strong fibrous substance especially especial I if It it holds moisture moisture moisture mois mois- ture such as refuse of sugar cane or sorghum and even common straw flax swamp grass or pine needles willbe will willbe be useful Spent tan bark Is sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times beneficial and wood fiber In any form is excellent Enough sand or earth should be thrown over such roads to keep them damp and protect protect pro pro- them from catching fire Earth is composed of ot small Irregular lar fragments which touch each other at points leaving voids between When the earth Is broken up and pulverized pulverized pulverized pul pul- these voids are almost equal in n volume to the solid particles and asa as asa a result the earth will absorb almost an equal volume of ot water In the building or maintaining of ot earth roads it t is therefore very desirable that these small irregular particles be pressed and packed into as small a space as possible in order that surplus surplus surplus sur sur- plus water may not pass In and destroy destroy destroy de de- stroy the stability of ot the road To this end rolling is very beneficial The work of ot maintaining dirt roads will be much increased b by lack of care In properly rolling the surface Depart Depart Department ment meat of Agriculture Report |