ON DRAUGHT. 



423 



mode of attaching the traces to the horses. If the connf^ction is made at 

 the proper place on the collar, the latter bears flat and evenly upon the 

 muscles which cover the collar-bone, and the shoulder? of the horse are 

 left almost as free in their action as if the collar were not there. About 

 A, {Jigs. 14 and 15,) is the point of the slioulder where the trace should 

 come; and a little inclination downward, which can very easily be effected 

 in the case of the shaft-horse by the shafts, and in the others by the belly- 

 band, will, if necessary, prevent the collar rising up, and inconvenienfting 

 the throat of the horse. 



rig. 14. 



Fig. 15. 



Reflecting upon the various circumstances which we have shown to occur 

 in the application of animal power, and the various conclusions we have 

 drawn while considering the best and most advantageous application of this 

 power — and we must be excused the frequent repetition of the terms, for 

 the sake of the clearness gained by it — it would appear that the resistance 

 should be, as much as possible, rigid and inelastic, so as to receive imme- 

 diately and unimpaired the direct effects of the slightly irregular exertions 

 of the animal ; that this resistance should not be such as to yield directly 

 to a sudden impulse ; that it should be so far uniform as to be free from 

 violent changes or sudden shocks, but not so constant as to allow of no 

 remission, nor of those alternations of exertion and comparative relaxation 

 which we have stated to be advantageous to the perfect development of 

 animal power. 



That, as regards the degree of resistance, where velocity is not required, 

 a force of traction of from 100 lbs. to 12.5 lbs., or even 150 lbs.,* according 

 to the strength of the horse, continued for eight hours a-day, at about two 



* The load which will produce this amount of draught will be determined when we 

 consider the subject of the roads, on the quality of which it will be seen that (his must 

 mainly depend. 



