106 HUNTING 



to the novice than the choice of saddlery. We will 

 begin with the choice of a saddle. Every saddler pro- 

 fesses to be able to make a good saddle, but not one in 

 a hundred can act up to his profession. The best 

 judge in England is unable to tell a good saddle at 

 sight. He can give an opinion on the shape and the 

 quality of the leather, but the "tree," which is the 

 foundation of the saddle, is hidden from view. Now, 

 the manufacture of the " tree " requires the greatest 

 skill, and the lightest and strongest wood. Hence, it 

 is impossible to get a new good saddle at a low figure, 

 and a bad saddle should never be in a gentleman's 

 saddle-room. Let us for a moment examine the struc- 

 ture of a " tree." There are four parts, viz. the two side 

 boards, the pommel, and the cantle, and the whole 

 must be so fitted together as to follow the outline of 

 the horse's back as closely as possible. Now, in order 

 that there should be no cross-grain, but that the grain 

 should run true throughout, it is necessary that the 

 tree should be made of several pieces of wood dove- 

 tailed into one another, so scientifically that there 

 should be no cross-grain, for cross-grain causes weak- 

 ness. Then pieces of metal, called the front and back 

 arches, are closely riveted to the pommel and cantle, 

 and the bars for the stirrups are riveted to the side 

 boards. Then the wood is covered with a coating^ of 

 canvas and glue, and the tree is complete. In a recent 

 law case it came out in the evidence that a good tree- 

 maker can easily earn from £3 to £4 a week. Hence 

 the impossibility of getting a good saddle at a low 

 figure is apparent. From £5, 10s. to £6 is a fair price 

 for a thoroughly well-made saddle for a gentleman; 



