The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-09-09

OIL lOf carriage anu llirlcSS, Ol NtSeta-
bic and animal composition. They
may be olive oil or the best quality
linseed oil, or some others specially
prepared for the purpose. either for
vehicles or harness Two buckets. two
sponges and two cIlamois skins should
be used for washing the vehicle. one
set for the body and one for the run
ming gear The reason for this is ob-
vious. The running gears have gener-
all y more mud to remove, and it don t
do to use the same cloth for both. as
dirt and GRIT gets into the one used on
the gear.
BALL AND ROLLER BEARING AXLES.
The full Colingc aN.cs are generally
ma lc alike, but not SO with ball and
roller bearing aXles. Each make is
put on and removed 10y its own rules.
These aXlcs do not need looking after
every week. Lift each wheel in turn
from the ground, and give it u whirl;
if it grinds the least, it needs a drop
of oil. Each time the carriage is taken
out it should be examined this way.
LEATHER on CARRIAGES. WAGONS AND
ll!..l!., Is.
Leather w,rk needs careful treat
ment. Very little attention is usually
given it. but it is subject to all sorts of
weather, and needs special care which
we will Indicate.
Enamcled leather, of which tops and
curtains are made, is made by coatings
Of varnish. and is liable to shrink un-
less measures are taken to prevent it.
Neatsfoot oil is the best for this pur-
pose. Sperm oil is also good. When
the leather is new, rub it with creased
rag about once a month. An hour or
two after rub with dry rag to remove
grease. Unless this is done, dust
gathers and the surface becomes gum
MY and sticky.
When the leather shows signs of
shrinking or getting hard and lifeless,
wash it with CASTLE soap and warm
water. This forces the oil into the
grain: use stiff brush while it is soft
from washing. Preparations can be
bought specially for this purpose; most
of them are varnish compounds, and
are sometimes injurious, hardening and
cracking the leather The tops of all
falling top carriages should be kept up
when not in use. This preserves the
shape oftIle top. In very cold weather
haEdle leather of any kind very little,
rs it is then more liable to crack The
dashcs are made OF patent leather, and
as they are liable to shrink and crack,
special care should b. taken with them.
CONCERNING vARNlSuED SURFACES.
To keep vanished and painted sur
faces in perfect condition, they should
be vanished once year. II used
longer, the varnish wears and the paint
becomes exposed. The paint then
cracks, and not only rcvarnishing but
repainting becomes necessary, and con-
sumes weeks in the operation.
Black varnish should always be kept
in the stable, and should be air tight.
If the steps and other wearing surfaces
show signs of defect, they should bc
treated at once. This holds good with
all metallic surfaces on carriages, and
save repairs The wearing surfaces on
harness should also be taken care by
similar attention.
WRENCuES.
Every vehicle should he furnished
with the necessary wrcnchcs. \ mon
key wrench is Il positive necessity.
The cOachman or cleaner should 90
over the vehicle every few days, and
see that the nuts are properly screwed
M eSpprially the axle nutS