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Vol. I.
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239
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IN SCOTLAND.

239

be diminished; so the two less carts having smaller axle-arms, and less weight to support, it is probable they will car-ry more weight than one large cart with larger axle-arms,and have no more friction. The most material difference be-tween these carts seems to be this, that the power applied tothe small, or one-horse cart, can always be properly directed,which is not the case with the larger, or two-horse cart; be-cause in the single-horse cart there is only one power ap-plied, which is easily directed in the proper line of draught;but in the larger one, there are two or more powers applied,and these generally in different directions. Besides this, it isvery seldom that both or all the horses draw constantly orequally, according to their strength : even with the greatestcare in driving, each horse will be often on the watch to re-lax, and save himself, so that the labour becomes extremelyharassing and distressing to each horse in his turn. It istherefore extremely prudent in those who are employed incarrying materials or goods from one place to another, tomake use of single-horse carts, in preference to carriagesdrawn by two or more horses. Indeed, the one-horse carthas been minutely examined in different points of view, byaccurate observers, and found, in almost every instance, (whenthe load can be divided into small parts), greatly superior tothe two-horse cart.

In the one-horse cart, likewise, the height of the wheelscan easily be adapted to the height of the horse, and the loadmore correctly placed in regard to the centre of gravity, bywhich means the draught will be considerably lessened. Inthe most improved carts of this sort, the bottom frame, whenplaced upon the axle, projects on each side over above the in-ner heads of the naves or centre blocks, so as to be only a lit-tle clear of the spokes of the wheels, which in a great degreeprevents sand, soil, or mud, from falling on the axle-arms andnaves at their inner ends.

A very intelligent gentleman, who had paid great attentionto the importance of carts in husbandry, found, in construct-