THE CHAMPION HURDLER 



take three short rests for his victuals in the course 

 of the day, the longest at noon, and, save for these, 

 would never leave the frame. In no other way 

 could a man turn out so many hurdles in a day, 

 even the longest summer one. 



Ten hurdles is a day's solid work for a man in 

 the full vigour of life. The woodman who made 

 his sixteen is the last in the world to scamp his 

 work, whether toiling for himself or another. He 

 was the best wattle hurdler in the wood, and, if 

 his work has fallen off in quantity, it is as good 

 as ever in quality. It wants a very practised eye, 

 if one is not actually concerned in the trade, to 

 detect shades of difference in the workmanship of 

 hurdlers. Though bred in a district famed for its 

 hazel and ash wood hurdles, and watching and 

 talking with the woodman at his frame at all seasons, 

 I cannot see much difference between one newly- 

 made hurdle and another. But the shepherd and 

 the farmer the latter through his pocket soon 

 learn who supplies them with the best or the worst : 

 wear and tear of use in the storm-swept fields tells 

 the ill-made hurdle goes to pieces at some weak 

 spot before the wood is brittle. 



The best time for hurdle-making is fine, fairly 

 dry weather. A little frost does not hinder the 

 woodman. A sharp frost is very bad for the work. 

 The moisture in the wood freezes, and it is hard 

 to make the hazel rods twist round the two outside 

 uprights ; often they snap like dead sticks in the 

 woodman's hands. The rods want pliableness during 



