88 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



long axle is, that it furnishes better facilities for turning. 

 This is true, if the additional width is used in space between 

 the body and the wheel ; but, where the spaces are equal in 

 two vehicles of different length of axles, the gain in turning 

 is in favor of the shorter axle. The carriage-builders infornt- 

 me that they experience no difficulty whatever in making or 

 using wagon-bodies forty inches wide in the clear. This is 

 wide enough for two provision-boxes which are nineteen 

 inches each. But there are other considerations. As our 

 roads improve, and are widened, there is not the same neces- 

 sity for turning short that there once was. A man can drive 

 his market-wagon or loaded team throughout Massachusetts, 

 to market and back, with the necessity of no sharp turns. 

 In the next place, many wagons are now made with the 

 forward wheels turning under, and some with forward axle 

 much narrower than the rear axle ; and many others may be 

 found, by a glance any day at Quincy Market, in which the 

 body is built out over the wheels. Any objection to a nar- 

 rower axle in Massachusetts than such as now obtains in 

 the sections we have named, is founded rather on custom or 

 prejudice than on experience or reason. What is perfectly 

 satisfactory to the farmers of Maine, New Hampshire, Ver- 

 mont, New York, and a portion of Massachusetts, cannot be 

 seriously inconvenient. 



What are the advantages of the narrow track ? I will give 

 them, not alone as my own opinions, but as those of practical 

 carriage-builders and dealers throughout the land. 



First, and perhaps of least importance, country roads 

 through woods, and on by-ways in which there is little travel, 

 may practically be worked a foot and a half to two feet nar- 

 rower with an axle of four feet eight inches than with one of 

 five feet five inches or five feet six inches ; and thus results 

 a saving in cost in the making and repair of such roads and 

 lanes. 



Second, the narrow axle finds its way easiest through 

 woods, stumps, and all narrow and obstructed passages. 



Third, a long axle requires not only the additional length, 

 and weight resulting from its additional length, but the wliole 

 axle must be larger and stronger, and therefore heavier. 

 There is, therefore, a saving in cost and in weight, and con- 

 sequently in draught ; whilst the additional length of body, if 



