74 DESIGN. 



vehicles should possess is perfect balance ; without which 

 the horse and man both suffer much discomfort. The pur- 

 chaser should have the same number of persons get into the 

 cart that he intends it to carry ; he should remain on the 

 floor and note at exactly what height from the ground the 

 tug places on the shafts are, when the vehicle is so balanced 

 that the shafts can be tipped back or lowered by the fore- 

 fingers alone. This distance should be the same as that from 

 the centre of the horse's body near the withers to the ground. 

 When thus balanced, the seats should not tip either forward 

 or backward. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the im- 

 portance of securing a perfectly balanced cart, as without bal- 

 ance they are the most uncomfortable contrivances ever 

 invented ; but when rightly built and drawn by a horse of 

 proper size, they are as easy riding as any simple four- 

 wheeler. 



DESIGN. 



The design determines primarily the character of the 

 vehicle. No amount of paint or metal work will alter the 

 relation of the various parts to one another, nor change the 

 lines. There are certain laws which should govern the design 

 of all types of vehicles, and it depends upon the degree of 

 strictness with which these laws have been observed in cre- 

 ating the composition whether the design is good, bad or 

 indifferent. These laws are proportion, simplicity and har- 

 mony. In whatever detail the carriage falls short of meet- 

 ing the demands of utility or symmetry, it will be found that 

 one or more of these laws has been ignored. 



Every vehicle should truthfully convey to the eye the 

 purpose for which it is intended : i. e., a road wagon by its 



