392 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



C spring. The grasshopper spring consists of an 

 indefinite number of plates of steel riveted together 

 in the middle where the spring lies upon the axle-tree, 

 and is attached to it by a clip ; one plate lies upon the 

 top of the other, each one being gradually shorter 

 than the one above it. They are ground to a thin edge 

 at their ends so as to play freely upon the plate above ; 

 by this arrangement the spring is much more lively 

 than it would be if made in a solid piece, and it will 

 bear greater weight without breaking. 



The elliptic spring resembles two grasshopper 

 springs greatly bent and one placed on the other, 

 with their extremities terminating in eyes being united 

 by bolts ; the axle is attached to the lower one and the 

 body of the carriage to the upper one. C springs are 

 made in the same way as regards the steel plates of 

 which they are composed ; but these are bent into the 

 form of the letter from which they take their name. 

 The lower end of the C spring is attached by bolts to 

 the under-carriage, the upper end having a leather 

 strap or brace, which is attached to the body ; this 

 spring is the easiest of all. Until lately it has been 

 quite out of fashion except with heavy C spring 

 barouches, but now it is gradually being applied even 

 to small carts, buggies, victorias, and other light 

 vehicles ; and as there is no other spring which is 

 equally easy and quiet, it is gradually regaining its 

 former position in public estimation. 



Having said all we can about smith's work, we may 

 now pass on to painting. The first process of paint- 

 ing the body of a carriage is to lay it all over with any 

 common colour, in which a considerable proportion of 

 japan and a little spirit of turpentine are mixed. Of 

 this colour the body ought to get three or four 

 coats, always increasing the quantity of turpentine 



