368 lewis's AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



greater just at the point, or rather a little above, where the wad is 

 placed over the shot, and of course assists very materially in keep- 

 ing the charge home. 



We have generally been in the habit of slightly anointing our 

 wads, before using, with sweet-oil ; it certainly prevents the bar- 

 rels from so quickly becoming foul, and may be of service other- 

 wise. The best plan to do this is to empty a portion of the wads 

 out of a full box, and then pour a few drops of oil on the remain- 

 der and shake them up thoroughly for a few moments, when their 

 edges will be found pretty generally anointed.* 



We were induced this season to make a trial of some French 

 wads, made of a species of coarse elsistic felt, covered with a thin, 

 partially-glazed white paper, but were not pleased with them for 

 several reasons. Firstly, the felting was not sufficiently stifi' to 

 prevent the wad from turning occasionally in the barrel while 

 being pushed down. Secondly, the felt being of a coarse, spongy, 

 elastic consistency, and withal nearly a quarter of an inch thick, 

 it required some experience to decide exactly when it was driven 

 ho77ie on top of the powder ; and we more than once inadvertently 

 rammed the powder entirely too tight, and a smart recoil was the 

 result. Thirdly, the paper that covers each side of the wad, much 

 to our astonishment, has a slight coat of glazing on it, which rubs 

 or peels off, and not only dirties the gun, but really scratches the 

 surface of the barrels. This paper, which adds considerably to 

 the stiffness of the wad, — in fact, almost constitutes its whole firm- 

 ness, — is merely stuck on the felt by a weak glue or paste ; and the 

 consequence is that it gets loose in the pocket and drops off, there- 

 by rendering the wad perfectly unmanageable. We might urge 

 other objections, but we suppose the above will be sufficient to in- 

 duce our readers to avoid them. 



The old style of paper wadding is entirely inadmissible in this 

 age of improvement; and in some sections of country the farmers 

 will not permit any one to shoot over their grounds who makes use 



* Wads can be purchased with their edges already anointed. 



