t t 



practical, and sober workmen should represent the 

 saddler ; more mischief has been caused to the horse's 

 back and the good name of the tradesman through 

 complaints, justified too frequently by the carelessness, 

 drunkenness, or idleness of the journeyman, than is 

 pleasant to either the customer or the trade. Frequently 

 the man is dissatisfied with the food and the quantity or 

 quality of beer supplied him, or complaints are made by 

 the farmer of his horses being injured through bad work- 

 manship, and no wonder, for cases have occurred in which 

 the hand-iron or other tools have been stuffed with the 

 wool into the lining by the careless workman. If it is 

 mutually understood that food and refreshments shall be 

 supplied by the farmer, the quality should by all means be 

 good, and the quantity regulated according to the ability 

 of the workman and the hours of labour. This alone will 

 command a fair day's work, reasonable charges, and no 

 complaints on either side. 



Pit-gears require an equal amount of care in making, 

 or repairing, and a good selection of material at all times. 

 The argument that they are going underground and out 

 of sight does not alter the fact that the horses in the mines 

 are, in many cases, as massive and good looking, and 

 undoubtedly are as well fed, and in many cases better 

 cared for, than the average horses above ground, therefore 

 it is really necessary that none but the best leather, check, 

 wool, laces, and ironwork, be used in the making up and 

 repairing all gears used underground. 



The split crupper and hip straps used for boating 

 purposes should likewise be firm and carefully made, the 

 side pipes true, and the collar bodies full and easy in the 

 draught. The housing should not be fixed upon the 

 collar to stand up, but to lie as flat as possible for the 



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