In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 1 1 3 



loads to draw and as steep hills to climb. They study 

 their horse's comfort much more than is done by the 

 farmers and carters of this boasted Christian land. 

 How much straining, fear, torture, and misery, would be 

 taken away from the poor horse if brains were more 

 plentiful in men ! By the very simple contrivance of 

 brake-power to every cart, the horse could go as easily 

 down a steep hill as on the level road. I have seen 

 such a contrivance in Scotland upon the carts drawing 

 stone from quarries. It is simply a piece of wood 

 attached to the after-part of the cart with two short 

 pieces of chain ; in the centre of the wood a small rod 

 of iron passes through to the axletree to which it is 

 attached, on the end which projects through the wood 

 a screw-handle is attached, with which the carter can 

 screw the block of wood so that it has a bearing upon 

 both wheels. The contrivance is very simple and the 

 cost trifling, as any country smith could make it and 

 put it on, and the saving in wear and tear of horse 

 flesh must be enormous. This simple break would be 

 far superior to the skid pan and chain upon our 

 waggons, as the power is upon both wheels at once, 

 and the pressure can be put on without the horses 

 being stopped and can be taken off without backing 

 the load. If owners of waggons and carts would have 

 them put on, their carters would soon appreciate 

 them ; for as a rule they are very fond of their horses, 

 especially if the farmer does not half-starve them. 

 The late Mr Mechi used to jocularly say that "the 

 ploughmen were more fond of their horses than their 

 wives ; they love to see them fat, with skins as glossy as 



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