DRAWING. 73 



wise, as the weight of the man assists the horse against 

 the weight he has to move. The latter part of this 

 argument only refers, however, to short distances, or to 

 starting a draught. 



The higher the wheels are, and the closer together, 

 whether they be two or four, the lighter will be the 

 draught. In fact, to render the draught as easy as pos- 

 sible, the axles ought to be on a level with the trace- 

 hooks, or point of traction, or as nearly horizontal as 

 possible with the traces and their place in the leg of 

 the hames. It is self-evident that if a horse has to be 

 pulling up, it is like his having to raise a certain part 

 of the weight of the carriage with every step he moves ; 

 and the faster he goes, the more injuriously does this 

 principle operate against him. 



The point of the pole-and-chain attachment should be 

 always so elevated from its insertion in the carriage as 

 to be on a level with the rings of the hames through 

 which the pole-chains pass. On the point of the pole 

 should be a revolving steel cross-tree, from eight to ten 

 inches in length, in the ends of which the pole-chains 

 or leathers are inserted. The working of this contriv- 

 ance will, to any practical man, demonstrate its utility. 



In light double harness, I much prefer using swing- 

 ing-bars instead of one inflexible splinter-bar, unless for 

 very heavy draught. Horses should be placed close to 

 their work. For adjusting the traces to that effect, see 

 page 58. 



It should be remembered that the farther forward in 

 a carriage the weight to be drawn is placed, the easier 

 will be the draught on the horse. Thus the weight of 

 one man at the extreme end of the vehicle (like a con- 

 ductor on an omnibus) has as much effect on the trac- 



