2 



water the dirt will soften and run harmlessly off ; then finish \vith a 

 soft chamois-leather and an old silk handkerchief. The same remarks 

 apply to the underworks and wheels, except that when the mud is 

 "well soaked, a soft mop, free from any hard substance in the head, 

 may be used. Never use a spoke-brush, which, in conjunction with 

 the grit from the road, acts like sand-paper on the varnish, scratch- 

 ing it, and of course effectually removing all gloss. If persisted in, 

 it will rub off the varnish and paint down to the wood. Never 

 allow water to dry itself on a carriage, as it will invariably leave 

 stains. 



" To remove spots or stains, a few drops of furniture polish, reviver, 

 or even linseed oil, rubbed on with a dab made of woollen rags (using 

 as little of the fluid as possible) will generally suffice. If the panels 

 are very badly stained, nothing but a regular flatting down and 

 hand-polishing, or even revarnishing, will be effectual. Patent 

 leather may be easily revived in the same way. 



" Enamelled leather heads and aprons should be washed with soap 

 and water, and then very lightly rubbed with linseed oil. In clean- 

 ing brass or silver, no acid, mercury, or grit should be used ; the 

 polish should be obtained solely by friction. 



" To prevent or destroy moths in woollen linings, use turpentine 

 and camphor. In a close carriage, the evaporation from this mix- 

 ture, when placed in a saucer, and the glasses up, is a certain cure. 



"'Be careful to grease the bearings of the fore-carriage so as to 

 allow it to turn freely. If it turns with diflSculty, the shafts or pole 

 will probably strain or break. 



''Examine a carriage occasionally, and whenever a bolt or clip 

 appears to be getting loose, tighten it up with a wrench. Always 

 have little repairs done at once. Should the tires of the wheels get 

 at all slack, so that the joints of the felloes are seen, have them 

 immediately contracted, or the wheels will be permanently injured. 

 Keep a small bottle of black japan and a brush always handy, to 

 paint the treads and steps when worn by the feet ; nothing makes a 

 carriage look more tidy than this. Lay it on as thinly as possible. 

 Never draw out or back a carriage into a coach-house with the 

 horses attached : more accidents occur from this than any other 

 cause. Headed carriages should never be allowed to stand with the 

 head down ; and aprons of every kind should be frequently unfoldt3d, 

 or they will soon spoil. As a general rule, a carriage retains its 

 freshness better with gentle work than if standing for long periods 

 in a coach-house. If not used frequently, draw it out from the 

 coach-house occasionally to giv^e it an airing." 



