Page:Walks in the Black Country and its green border-land.pdf/311

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and its Green Border-Land.
297

collar ring of the one behind him to which he was attached. And still the owner of that noble team must have been a farmer of the first classdoubtless a man of general intelligence, but who had not yet learned to give a reason to himself or others for this strange use of horse-power. You seldom ever see farm-horses used in England in any other way. Whether on plough, cart, or wagon they are nearly always strung together in "Indian file," with spaces from four to six feet between each couple. I do not now recollect ever having seen a four-wheeled farm-wagon in England with a pole to it. However long and large, it is fitted with a pair of shafts, into which the thill-horse is put. Then frequently, perhaps, even if not generally, you will see the traces of the forward horse hooked into the hame ring of the one behind, instead of into his drawing chain. This makes another waste, for a great deal of drawing force is lost in the uneven sway and movement of the hindermost horse, and a considerable portion of his weight has to be added to the loaded cart, to make it more solid and heavy. It would be almost amusing to an American teamster to watch the manure-wagons climbing over the hills from Birmingham. He would sometimes sec a long procession of horses mounting the crown of the eminence seemingly detached from any load. On looking again he