898 CARRIAGES. 



quires a great deal of care to keep it in order. Oarriagea 

 are often elaborately finished to cover up serious defecta 

 in the workmanship. 



Ninth. Examine closely the painting: a few years OAvner' 

 ship of a carriage wiH show a greater outlay in making 

 good original defects in painting, than for any other item. 

 If the varnish is dull, it generally argues that the painting 

 has been hurriedly done. The varnish will " strike in " 

 on bad painting, and a little exposure in bad weather wUI 

 crack the paint to the wood. 



Tenth. Never permit, in the cushions or backs, any ma 

 terial but pure curled hair. Moss soon becomes hard. 



Eleventh. If you desire cloth linings in high colors, 

 always insist upon English cloths. French and German 

 cloths, in high colors, for the qualities used in carriages 

 will soon fade. In drab cloths, the American twilled is 

 the best in use. 



Twelfth. See that the cloth on the glass frames has been 

 shrunk before it was put on : if not shrunk, the first rain 

 to which it i? exposed will draw it off the frames. 



Thirteenth. Ree that the door locks and handles work 

 with ease, and do not rattle. Nothing is more annoying 

 than bad door locks, or even good locks badly fitted. 



Fourteenth. In purchasing a carriage for road use, see 

 that it is made to " track " in the ruts in the district where 

 vou intend to use it. There are at least a score of differ^ 

 ent tracks in different parts of the Union — varying from 

 i feet 4 (from centre to centre of the wheels, measured on 

 the ground.) to 5 feet 4J inches. 



THE CARE OP THE CARRIAGE. 



Having procured a carriage which has a fine lustre, 

 which runs easily and smoothly, and which is generally 



