78 POLE OF CARRIAGE. 



high nor too low at the point, because in either 

 position the horses cannot have convenient and 

 sufficient power to support the carriage. If too 

 high, the horses are lifted before, and slip on 

 their haunches in « backing," or in a descent ; 

 if too low, their shoulders are pulled down by 

 the collar, and their knees are bent under them ; 

 but the point of the pole, when proportionately 

 adopted, should be in a line with the centre of 

 the horses' chests; then they can resist the 

 weight of the carriage in a position parallel with 

 the natural powers of their own longitudinal 

 bodies. 



Wheels. — The best grease for wheels is but- 

 ter, without any mixture. Butter scrapings are 

 cheap. A small piece, of the size of a walnut, 

 will be sufficient for one wheel for two months. 

 Lard liquidizes, drips, and is dirty; and when 

 mixed with black-lead, soon becomes dry and 

 hard. Oil (such as is used for the patent boxes) 

 assists friction to wear the iron, and in close 

 boxes which have no linch-pins, cuts a groove in 

 the axle-tree, when a jolt may snap it asunder : 

 hence arise many accidents. Linch-pins are 

 safest. 



