T8 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



The first stage in making a hurdle is the splitting 



of the rods ; and this is an art calling for years of 



practice before such perfect efficiency is 



Hurdlers' atta i ne( j that the worker can divide each 

 Science 



rod exactly down the centre with his eyes 



shut. The bill-hook is inserted at the rod's smaller 

 end, the other end is held between the knees, and 

 the straight, clean split is made by directing the 

 pressure of the bill-hook one way or the other the 

 edge of the hook being turned towards that side of 

 the rod which threatens to splinter. When the 

 rods are split, the " salins " the upright stakes 

 which form the framework of the hurdle are fixed 

 into the " mole " a solid piece of wood, slightly 

 curved, and drilled with holes. " Spurs " are the small, 

 round, unsplit rods woven over the top and bottom 

 to prevent slipping. The weather has much to do 

 with the ease and speed of the work. Cold, sunless 

 days with east winds tend to make the rods brittle, 

 and then when a binding spur is being wound into 

 place it will break, and part of the hurdle must be 

 remade. Drought hardens the wood, and the rods 

 lose elasticity. A hard frost may freeze the wood's 

 moisture, and the rods may then snap. The most 

 favourable weather is sunny, but not scorching, 

 with occasional light showers. In wet weather 

 the strongest worker is terribly handicapped, and 

 rheumatism, sooner or later, is almost certain to take 

 hold of him. 



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