208 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



of sufficient consistence to carry the shot in a body 

 to a certain distance from the muzzle of the piece; 

 for if the wadding is rammed too close, or is of a hard 

 and rigid substance, such as stiff brown paper, the 

 piece will recoil, and the shot will spread more; if, 

 on the contrary, the wadding is not sufficiently close, 

 and is composed of a slight and too pliant a material, 

 such as wool or cotton, it will not be of consistence 

 enough to carry, the shot, and the discharge will lose 

 its proper force. Besides, a certain portion of the 

 shot, which is more immediately in contact with the 

 wadding, will be melted by the explosion of the 



An acquaintance of the compiler, and an expe- 

 rienced sportsman, after making use of every kind 

 of wadding imaginable, is decidedly in favour of soft 

 brown paper. Some make use of tow for this pur- 

 pose; others cork; and I have been told that a white 

 moss, which is found adhering to apple-trees, makes 

 excellent wadding ; a cloth too, called shepherd's 

 fearnought, is much spoken of. I will not pretend 

 to say which of these is the best ; but 1 will venture 

 to point out the worst of them ; which are, the tow 

 and moss; it is very obvious that these, from their 

 nature, are very ill adapted for wadding. That cork 

 is good for this purpose, I have no hesitation for as- 

 serting; and the same may be said of shepherd's 

 fearnought. And I shall now mention the wadding 

 which I regard as the best, and which 1 constantly 



