ON DRAUGHT. 565 



only is considered ; that the wear and tear, first cost, and expense of 

 attendance of several small carts, is greater than that of a waggon carry- 

 ing the same load, and that in consequence there is an economy obtained 

 by the latter. 



N"vimber of facts and the results of long experience are adduced on either 

 side, all of which convey much useful information ; and the substance of 

 the whole appears to be, that with light single-horse two- wheeled carts, 

 good horses are able to draw greater loads, and do more work in propor- 

 tion than a waggon team ; that these carts are easier loaded and unloaded, 

 do less injury to the roads, and that they do not require more horses in 

 action than are sufficient for the work to be performed. 



On the other hand, it is found that the horses must be stronger and 

 better fed ; that being entirely dependent on their own exertions, and 

 doing more work, they are more fatigued and sooner knocked up ; that on 

 rough roads they are liable to be shaken and injured by the sudden move- 

 ments and shocks of the cart, all of which are conveyed by the shafts 

 directly to the horse ; that in ascending or descending hills, the whole 

 weight being above the axle-tree, it destroys the balance, and is thrown 

 too much upon the horse in the former case, or tends to raise him from the 

 ground in the latter, which even if any alteration of the balance be found 

 advantageous, is exactly the contrary of what would be necessary. 



That with a waggon — the average power of several horses is obtained — 

 horses of inferior quality may therefore be used ; they are not so much 

 fatigued, because by relieving each other they can alternately exert them 

 selves or relax. Greater loads can be carried with less attendance of 

 drivers, and they are less liable to accidents ; they are easier withdrawn 

 from any hole, or forced over any obstruction, because only half the load 

 being upon each pair of wheels, the whole force of the team is applied 

 successively to each half of the load, consequently in any bad road the 

 power occasionally required is less, although the draught of the carriage, 

 properly speaking, is greater than that of a two- wheeled cart. These various 

 arguments Avould appear to lead to the conclusion, that upon good roads, 

 and for short distances, with good horses, two-wheeled single-horse carts 

 are the best ; but that, with inferior roads and ordinary horses, light four- 

 wheeled waggons, with a team of three or four horses, are the most 

 advantageous. 



Two- wheeled carts with two horses are decidedly inferior to either of 

 these: the shaft horse suffers all the inconveniences complained of in the 

 single-horse cart, and the leader does not produce more effect than when 

 in a waggon team. 



It is impossible to decide generally upon the comparative merits of the 

 different arrangements, because the result depends entirely upon the cir- 

 cumstances of the case. 



We may, however, endeavour to unite in some degree the advantages 

 claimed by both. The draught of a cart is less than that of a waggon 

 for several reasons : amongst others, because the wheels are larger, and the 

 horse produces more effect, because his foi'ce is applied immediately to the 

 resistance. A light waggon with large front wheels would not be much 

 inferior in point of di-aught to the cart, and two horses abreast in double 

 shafts would work with equal advantage to the single horse ; while an 

 additional horse may always be applied when an excessive load or the 

 state of the roads should require it. 



All that we have said with respect to the size and contrivance of wheels 

 is equally applicable to light carriages as to heavy, and we shall now pro- 

 ceed to consider the different modes of placing the loads upon the wheels. 



It might appear at first sight that this would not affect the amount of 



