In sloping ground, mounds or dams, screens, plantations of trees and hedges in very exposed places have been insufficient to prevent some drifting and accumulation of snow in a cutting, and a mound or fence has consequently been erected upon the plateau at the top of the hill a sufficiently safe distance from its face that snow-slips, which might be increased into avalanches, were prevented from reaching the slopes or formation. A drain should be cut upon the higher side of such a hill-dam or fence so as to carry away the snow-water upon a thaw, and prevent the earth becoming in an unstable condition. No. 4.—This system is generally used when an earth mound is also adopted and it has to be deposited from side cutting. The trench, of course, should be on the side of the mound farthest from the main cutting. As a snow-catcher it is successful, especially in shallow embankments, for it not only retains snow that would otherwise heap, but drains an embankment. No. 5.—This depends upon the configuration of the country, but as cuttings act as traps to catch snow, if possible they should be avoided; and particularly when of little depth, as it is found they quickly become choked, and want as much protection as deeper excavations, and from being more exposed to the cold air, the snow in them becomes caked and frozen, and requires breaking up before it can be removed. Embankments of a height a little above the ground, and the greatest depth of the uniform snowfall of the country, are to be preferred. No. 6.—Generally approved, as not only affording an advanced catch-trench, but because it acts as a permanent drain. No. 7.—This is a controverted system. Some engineers object to it as facilitating the deposition of snowdrifts; others approve, upon the ground that by flattening the slopes the snow can drift freely and will fall equally upon the formation. The balance of experienced opinion seems to be rather against the adoption of flattened slopes, unless they are made very flat, such as from 4 to 1 TO 10 to 1, at which latter slope snow it is found does not usually accumulate but passes on depositing only its general depth: and additional means of protection are afforded, and appears to indicate that the unaided system is only well adapted for countries in which winds of great force are generated, such as the “blizzards” of North America. No. 8.—It is found that increased width of the formation of a cutting is an advantage, as it retards choking, facilitates clearing operations, and provides room for shovelling snow from the permanent way, whether effected by a snow-plough or by manual labour.