HORSE-SHOEING. 207 



and am perfectly satisfied that it is a valuable accessory mode of* 

 defending and preserving the hoofs, and remedying their diseases 

 or defects. It cannot "be applied indiscriminately to every foot, 

 and to make the groove in the hoof and fit the shoe accurately, 

 requires some care. When the horn and metal are combined in 

 this way, it is somewhat astonishing for how long a period a very 

 light rim will sustain wear even on hard roads. 



I have not tried the shoe on the hind-feet, because I do not 

 think it so well adapted for them ; as before mentioned, the front- 

 feet only demand all our attention. 



WINTEE SROEINQ. 



In such a variable climate as ours, it is not an easy matter to 

 provide economically and successfully for the occurrence of frost 

 and snow during the winter months, so far as shoeing in con- 

 cerned. Some winters are so mild that there is no necessity for 

 making any difference in the shoe, while others are so severe, and 

 the roads are covered with ice for such a long period, that special 

 appliances must be resorted to if the services of horses are to be 

 made at all available. 



To be generally useful, these appliances must be cheap and 

 simple. 



The quickest, cheapest, but at the same time least durable of 

 these, is the " frost-nail." This is nothing more than the ordi- 

 nary horse-shoe nail, with its head flattened gradually to a thin 

 edge. Two or three of the nails are withdrawn from each side of 

 the shoe, and replaced by the frost-nails. The heads may be 

 flattened in different directions, according to circumstancess. 

 Sometimes the heads are of steel, when of course they are more 

 lasting. For short journeys, frost-nails are useful and easily 

 available ; but as they only last for a brief period, and as their 

 frequent removal injures the hoof to some extent, they are only 



