Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-11-20
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)

lllSlI VI <ASllCulluiC o.
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 its use a poor pri-
vate road to farm is as great 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, ac-
cording to the bureau of public roads
of the United States department of ag-
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-
ton of the roads and paths about the
farm. The roads and paths are q part
of the permanent farm: plant. COnse-
quently they should be so located as
to serve best the purpose for which
they are intended, should fit in with the
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-
ton or maintenance. The main con-
sideratiOn, however, must be to Sc
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 We
hicle ways in the immediate vicinity
of his farmhouse. This particular ar
10 lOI a Ibl liSlNiu 'NNupJ
ing a corner lot, which permits a Sec
Ond, or rear, entrance from the public
highway, this lane, running to the
north, shown at the right side of the
diagram, is q 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 d.
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 dust from
them will ordinarily be carried awey
from the dwelling.
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 few places immedi-
ately around the farm lots and build
ings, can be made to answer the re-
quirements fairly well. A little grad
ing will in general give the earth road
crown sloping from the center to-
about one inch to the foot, and side
bitches of sufficient size to carry away
the storm water can usually be con-
structed without difficulty. If the
ground is springy, the side bitches 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-
piished by securing a reasonable firm
crowned roadway and providing
bitches of sufficient size and with am
pie grade and frequent outlets. Sub
| drainage to remove the water from
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
around the farmyards and barns
which are used very frequently are
usually of sufficient importance to
warrant some surface Improvement.
inexpensive surfscing Materials.
Many of the materials ordinarily en-