54 ON SHOEING. 



enabled to punch the holes more easily and with 

 greater accuracy than he could do without the assist- 

 ance of such an artificial line. Secondly, that the 

 groove will prevent slipping. Thirdly, that the 

 nail-heads, being in the groove, will be thereby 

 better protected. 



None of these reasons have much force. A 

 tolerably good workman ought not to need the 

 assistance of a fuller line to guide him in punching 

 the nail-holes. Again, although slipping may in 

 some degree be prevented on soft ground by the 

 groove, it can hardly be affected by it on pavement, 

 where horses are most apt to shp ; and, lastly, the 

 groove does not protect the nail-heads any more 

 than or even as much as countersinks. 



Fullering, moreover, is objectionable, because it 

 weakens the shoe ; and, again, nails never fit so 

 well or so tightly into the groove of the fuller as 

 into properly countersunk holes. 



Flat and g2. The Ordinary practice is to make shoes con- 

 concave "^ ^ 



shoes. caye towards the sole and flat towards the ground. 

 The object of this form is to prevent the risk of 

 pressure from the shoe on the sole. 



If this pressure occurred it would certainly be in- 

 jurious, as has been explained at length above ; but 

 with a good unrasped crust — and this is the founda- 

 tion of everything — there is no fear of a shoe flat 

 towards the sole pressing unduly on it, because the 



