122 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



generally speaking. It is cool and smooth, wears 

 quite as well as serge, and, what is more, is not so 

 attractive to moths, and I should advocate its use. 



Within the last few years Messrs. Whippy, of 

 London, have brought out a new method of lining 

 saddles. I have never used it myself, but I have 

 seen it. I hear nothing but the highest praise 

 respecting it. It is this : All serge or linen lining 

 is completely done away with ; the tree is covered 

 with thick felt, and over this there is a covering of 

 plain, smooth leather ; the seat is also lined with 

 leather in a similar manner. Beyond this there is 

 apparently nothing, and apparently nothing further 

 is required. As may be supposed, the rider is able 

 by its use to sit very close to his horse, and that 

 alone is a very great desideratum. Saddles so lined 

 are comparatively indestructible, and are, of course, 

 very much lighter, while the lightness obtained is 

 not in any way at the expense of strength or 

 durability. I am given to understand that Messrs. 

 Whippy have not in any way patented or protected 

 this improvement, and I have recently seen one 

 which has been made by Mr. Orpwood, of Oxford, 

 and which is an improvement on the ordinary way 

 of fixing such lining:. I tried a saddle lined with 

 leather, as I have described, on a saddler's horse, 

 and I must say that, although such a method of 



