CHAP. IV.] FULLERING — A NEW METHOD. 



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493 



Practical Precepts. 



The shoe, In quantity or size, the common de- 

 fence of the full-grown horse's foot is made half an 

 inch thick at the toe, but near the heel one fourth 

 less ; here, also, it must be made narrower by the 

 half than at the toe, where it is an inch wide, and 

 so continues round to the quarters, lessening away 

 towards the heel, where it is but half an inch wide. 

 Very near the outer edge a groove is made, not too 

 deep, but sloping from the side next the rim, in 

 nider to throw the heads of the nails slanting, 

 when the final hammering down takes place. A 

 practice prevails with us of making this groove, 

 caJledfuUering, much too close to the edge ; and 

 to so great an extent does this mistaken notion pre- 

 vail, that he who could so make it nearest to the 

 edge without cracking the rim was long considered 

 the best workman. This, however, is not the most 



