THE SHOE. 71 



ing textures ; this is more particularly the case toward 

 the heels, especially the inner one. In the hind-foot, the 

 wall is generally strong toward the quarters and heel. 

 These facts at once give us an indication as to the best 

 position for the nail-holes. In the fore-foot, nails can be 

 driven through the wall around the toe as far as the inside 

 quarter, and a little nearer the heel on the outside. In 

 the hind-foot, they may be driven around the toe, and 

 even up to the heels with impunity. 



The form of the nail-holes is a matter of secondary 

 importance. The " fullering," or groove, around the bor- 

 der of the English shoe, though artistic looking, is a mis- 

 take ; it is a waste of labor and of but little, if any, ser- 

 vice. What is termed the " stamped shoe," is in every 

 way preferable. The square or somewhat oval cavity, 

 wide at the top and tapering toward the bottom, gives a 

 secure and solid lodgment to the nail-head, which of 

 course should fit the cavity accurately ; it does not weak- 

 en the shoe, is easily made, can be placed nearer the outer 

 or inner margin of the plate as required, and when filled 

 with the nail is as capable of resisting wear as any other 

 part of the shoe. It is usually better to have the nail- 

 holes stamped " coarse " (that is, at some distance from 

 the outer margin of the shoe) at points corresponding to 

 those parts of the hoof where the wall is strongest ; and 

 " finer," where the horn is thin and its fibres short. 



They should not, as a rule, incline outward or inward, 

 but be so perforated that the nail-point can take a strong 01 

 weak hold of the wall, according to circumstances. If 

 the hoof be strong, with plenty of wall at its lower mar- 

 gin, then the holes may be stamped coarse, in order to 

 take a short but solid hold of it, by driving the nail ob- 

 liquely outward (as in Fig. 16, a). 



The number of nail-holes through which nails are to be 

 driven should be as few as possible. Every nail pene- 



