The spectator., 1919-11-14
Lanes.
Prepared by the United States Depart
 ment of Agriculture.)

Prepared by the United States Depart
 ment of Agriculture)
 Good-road building, like charity, should begin at home. This is another way of stating that private roads on the farm are as important to the in- terests they serve as the public roads over which the farmers product is hauled to market.
 In proportion to it's use a poor pri- vate road to farm is as great a hand leap to efficient marketing as we'll as other farm operations, as a poor pub lie highway. The fundamental princi- pie involved in the construction of the two kinds of roads is the same. &C., cording to the bureau of public roads of the United States department of az riculture. But. as the farm road is called on to bear far less traffic, the ordinary methods of construction and maintenance are so modified and the use of materials so adapted as to meet the special requirements and reduce the cost To build the farm roads in the same manner and design as pub lie thoroughfares which carry much greater traffic, in general. would be a useless waste of money.
 The first consideration is the loca- tion of the roads and paths about the farm. The roads and paths are a part of the permanent farm, plant. Conse- quently they should be so located as to serve best the purpose for which Et ~ttb fl., general scheme of the farm and at the same time should avoid. as much as possible, places which would re- Quire difficult and expensive construc- tion or maintenance. The main con- sideration, however must be to se- cure the highest degree of efficiency from the farm plant as a whole.
 Ideal Arrangement of Lanes.
 The accompanying diagram, showing an ideal arrangement of farm build ings as well as of connecting lanes and drives. offers helpful suggestions to the farmer who is planning new ve- hicle ways in the immediate vicinity of his farmhouse. This particular ar rangement is for farmstead occupy ing a corner lot, which permits q sec ond, or rear, entrance from the public highway. this lane, running to the north, shown at the right side of the diagram, is convenience in case stock is to be driven to the market in that the animals need not be driven past the house, thereby subjecting shrubs. trees and the lawn to possible damage. One feature that should be taken into consideration in planning the roads near the farmhouse is the di- rection of the prevailing winds. In this instance the main entrance lane and drive have been located to the north of the house. so that aust from them will ordinarily be carried away from the dwelling.
 The earth road Is the most common type of farm road and will probably so remain. When properly crowned. drained and maintained with the split log drag or other similar device the earth road. on all but few exception al soils or in a few places immedi- ately around the farm lots and build ings. can be made to answer the re- quirements fairly we'll. A little grad ing will in general give the. earth road crown sloping from the center to- ward the side ditches at the rate of about one inch to the foot, and side ditches of sufficient size to carry away the storm water can usually be con structed without difficulty. If the ground is springy, the side ditches may be made deeper. or the ground water may be carried away by tile drains.
 Good Drainage Essential.
 The fundamental requirement of an earth road is always good drainage. This involves, first, the removal of the water which reaches the surface of the road from precipitation or otherwise; and second, in certain places the re- moval of any ground water which | reaches the road from underground seepage. Surface drainage is accom- p'ished by securing a reasonable firm | crowned roadway and providing | ditches of sufficient size and with am- pie grade and frequent outlets. Sub | drainage to remove the water from l beneath the road surface or to pre- vent it's passage into the roadbed is | usually accomplished most effectively | by so-called blind drains or by means | of properly located tile drains.
 Roads and drives immediately l around the farmyards and barns | which are used very frequently are usually of sufficient importance to | warrant some surface improvement.
 inexpensive Surfacing Materials.
 Many of the materials ordinarily em-