THE CURRICULUM. 429 



be attached to the Veterinary and Agricultural Schools) be 

 instituted. In London, the excessive pressure of work and the 

 introduction of machine-made shoes and nails have dealt a 

 death-blow to ' skill ' of the highest kind. Shop-boys graduate 

 into doormen in the course of a couple of years without having 

 seen, much less practised, one half of their craft ; and were it 

 not for the constant influx of country workmen into the 

 Metropolis, efficient doormen, capable at a pinch of fitting or 

 making a shoe, would cease to exist. 



II. SHOEING COMPETITIONS. 



For competitions at shows teniporary sheds are required, 

 and the arrangement of forges, stands, and enclosures for the 

 public requires some care and forethought. The Plan here- 

 with shows one method of utilising a space about 70 feet 

 square, and obviates the necessity for a long description. 



The sheds are formed of skeleton wooden frames covered 

 with canvas, except in the case of those containing the forges, 

 where wood should be used for the sides and corrugated iron 

 for the roof, to avoid the chance of ignition by a flue becoming 

 overheated or of sparks flying from the anvils. The stalls for 

 horses should be floored with wood, and, to protect the workers 

 in case of rain, roofed with canvas (see Plan) ; in very wet 

 weather a layer of sawdust spread on the floor will be found 

 to prevent horses or men slipping. A stout wooden rail 

 should be provided at the end furthest from the anvils, to which 

 the horses can be fastened. 



The open ends of sheds containing the anvils should, if 

 possible, look towards the north, so ns to secure a good light 

 without the sun shining in the face of the fireman. 



A stand for the public will be found of advantage, as many 

 persons interested in the competitions do not care to be jostled 

 by the crowd which usually collects on these occasions, and 

 will gladly pay a small sum for- ihe privilege of a seat. 



Competitors should be required to bring their own tools 

 and nails, and to provide a striker, but the show connnittee 

 should find everything else. An experienced farrier should 



