[This department of OUTING is devoted to answers to correspondents seeking information on subjects appertaining to all sports.]
Scot, Boston.—For the game of lawn bowls you must have turf in the finest possible condition. The dimensions of the ground should be about forty-two yards long, and, if possible, the same breadth. There should be ditches at both ends, about twelve inches wide and three inches deep, with a bank about eighteen inches above the level of the lawn, to stop the bowls. The reason why it is advisable to have the ground square, is that one can then change the direction of play and so save the grass.
Chas. T., Baltimore.—Your horse is probably suffering from irregular teeth. What you describe is called “quidding.” You should have a veterinary surgeon to see to his teeth, and if necessary rasp them down. If it does not come from the teeth, he is probably suffering from catarrh, with sore throat, and when he is swallowing water you will be able to notice a peculiar gulping effort. This, of course, would need treatment.
Breeder, Buffalo, N. Y.—The New Forest ponies are no good. They have much of the blood of Marsk, the sire of the famous English horse Eclipse, in their veins, but in spite of it they are about as ill-looking animals as one can imagine, with most hideous heads and necks. They are, however, hardy and useful. The best all-round specimens of the Shetland that we have ever seen, certainly in America, are the family of them exhibited by Mr. Pierre Lorillard at the New York Horse-Show. They are of exactly the right stamp for that class of pony, and the stallion, Montreal, was well described as having “the build of a cart-horse and the carriage of a thoroughbred.”
Matador.—The sword is passed between the skull and the first cervical vertebra, in a perpendicular direction only.
Fred, H. L., Brooklyn, N. Y.—The best method to render shoes impervious to snow is to apply castor-oil. It must be applied twice, after the boots have been warmed at the fire. Of course, the oil must be used again at intervals, when the leather shows signs of needing it. The best plan is to wash off all blacking first, and apply the oil to the sole as well as the other portions of the shoe.
R. S. B., Broadway.—The length of the Cambridgeshire course, at Newmarket, England, is 1 mile and 240 yards.
Gunner, Washington, D. C.—Strictly speaking, the correct plural is with the s; but that letter is very commonly omitted. Indeed, among sportsmen, it may be said that “snipe” is invariably used in the plural as well as the singular sense; but naturalists use the plural “snipes” as meaning the different species of snipe. With woodcocks it is more usual to add the s, but many sportsmen omit it.
Canine, Hartford, Conn.—(1) Your best plan is to wash the ears out and brush in some green iodide of mercury twice a week. (2) Puppies at the age of three months or so, often show crooked legs with enlarged joints, but these generally come right later.
Athlete, Cambridge.—You can obtain just the kind of jewelry you require from Shreve, Crump & Low Co., Washington Street, Boston. They also give special attention to designing and making prizes for clubs.