434 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



Newly painted carriages should not be used until 

 the varnish is fairly hard. Mud leaves spots on 

 freshly varnished surfaces. A carriage should be 

 washed as soon as possible after use ; the mud should 

 never be allowed to dry on, as when it does so it is 

 far more difficult to get off, and when it does come off, 

 the varnish or even the paint frequently falls away 

 with the mud. The mud ought to be well soaked 

 before attempting to remove it. Mr. Hooper advises 

 that a cloth mop, a soft sponge, or a chamois leather 

 be used ; a sponge is what my grooms always make 

 use of. The use of a spoke-brush I have never been 

 able to understand, as were it used for the spokes it 

 would most certainly knock off the paint and varnish. 

 I once had one with a leather back, which was certainly 

 an improvement, as the leather is far softer than 

 wood. I believe these brushes have a tallow candle 

 sewn up inside the back, so that when they are plunged 

 into water and afterwards allowed to dry, the moisture 

 does not destroy the leather. But if a spoke-brush be 

 used, the best one would be with the bristles all round, 

 so that no wooden handle could come in contact with 

 the painted and varnished surfaces. I have a brush 

 with a hollow back and handle ; the back is perforated, 

 and the handle is attached to an indiarubber tube, 

 which, when connected with a water-tap at some 

 height above the carriage to be washed, allows the 

 water to pass between the bristles, the amount of 

 water being controlled by a small tap in the handle 

 which can be turned on or off as desired; consequently 

 no bucket of water need be used, as the brush is itself 

 a vehicle for conveying water to the muddy parts of 

 the carriage. 



As rec^ards the lining of a coach, It should be 



