SADDLE-TREES. 105 



placed about an inch apart) to the wood. The 

 whole of the wooden portion of the tree is covered 

 with a coating of canvas and glue. I should also 

 add that the bars, as they are called, for the 

 stirrups to be fastened on to, and which are also of 

 metal, are also riveted on to the side-boards of 

 the tree. So far, the tree is complete, and it will 

 be readily seen that there is a very great deal of 

 skilled labour necessary to make a good tree, and 

 the material must also be the best of its kind, inas- 

 much as it is absolutely necessary to combine 

 strength with lightness. It is therefore impossible 

 to obtain the best tree in a cheap saddle, and either 

 one or other of the above essentials must be 

 wanting. 



To ride on a naked tree is, of course, impossible. 

 It must therefore be covered both on its upper and 

 lower side. On the former for the rider's sake, on 

 the latter for that of the horse. It is customary 

 to cover the tree with strong webbing. Over this, 

 again, is placed the leather seat, which completely 

 covers the upper part of the tree from end to end, 

 and is cut out to fit it. This seat is usually 

 made of hogskin, and in order to make it less 

 hard and more comfortable, is lightly padded or 

 stuffed. The rest of the seat is made of either hoff- 

 skin or ordinary leather, and has short flaps, or 



