OR, The Turn Out. 77 



up in parts ; hence the saying, " that good harness 

 actually improves in wear," which remark is frequently 

 suggested by the mellow and clean appearance of some 

 old sets. 



The most important matter in assisting the groom is 

 that he be supplied with the best materials and tools (as 

 he calls them), especially that item which it is intended 

 shall preserve as well as clean the leather, and so produce a 

 substantial and quick return for labour; hence the promi- 

 nence given to the composition known as compo. 



It is not our duty to give the various modes and processes 

 of the manufacture of this or other trade specialities for 

 harness, or harness room requisites, and the different ingre- 

 dients comprised, although professed receipts of "A 1 stuff,'* 

 are common enough. 



The Author supplies many (or most) of the kinds known 

 in the trade, but the compo he finds to give the widest 

 satisfaction, and which he has used and is using almost 

 daily in his harness manufactory, is that made by Messrs. 

 Jamieson & Co., of Aberdeen."* The Author thinks there 

 are others in the trade of the same name, but the above is 

 the actual title of the firm he refers to. Of course there 

 are other good compos in the market; but the care should be, 

 to avoid the bad, of which there is a very large proportion 

 which give no return for labour, but make work for the 

 groom, and actually burn and destroy the substance and 

 beauty of the harness by killing the leather and spoiling 

 good workmanship. 



The same rule applies to the polishing pastes for 

 cleaning the furniture, many of which not only injure the 

 silver, or whatever the metal may be, but are dirty in 

 use. Harris's is a good old-standing name for that and 

 many other specialities of its class. The Author will gladly 

 forward any gentleman a list of the makers of note of all 

 items in that line, from boot-top powder to silver sand. 



The above items may not seem of vast importance to the 

 careless eye, but they are of recognised value to the syste- 

 matic horseman, who exercises the greatest discretion in all 

 his selections, and in his prejudices is equally firm. 



In giving his recommendations to probable enquirers, the 

 Author would here say that it will be with the same feeling 



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