Britain at Work
A Pictorial Description of Our National Industries

14 On large farms, where there are more than one homestead, there may be two, or even three, of these carters, with men and lads under them according to the number of horses. If eight horses are kept the equipment will consist of head carter, under carter, and two ploughboys, who will man four ploughs. The head carter must be a man of experience, who has gone through all the lower stages and entered a stable as a junior. He has probably served twelve to fifteen years as boy and under carter before he is considered to be capable of taking charge of a stable. His attainments are considerable, and his suggestions should be worth attention. The success of the farm depends a good deal upon the head carter, for he must be active and pushing, an early riser, and good manager. To give a man charge of a stable who has not served his time from early boyhood to at least the age of twenty-five would be a mistake. Not only must the carter understand how to feed and manage horses, but he must possess BRITAIN AT WORK. HARROWING- AND SOWING. Photo T C. Reidy IVtshaiu. a good knowledge of farm machinery, such as self-binders, reapers, drills, and cultivators. He must also be well versed in tillages, and know the requirements of land. The carter must be in the stable by five o’clock (in some counties earlier) to feed his horses, for this work is peculiarly his own. At six o’clock he goes to breakfast, leaving his helpers to groom and harness the teams and clean the stable. At seven o’clock the horses should be on the road to the field. The plough- man’s day is in most cases from seven a.m. to four p.m., with half an hour for refresh- ments at twelve o’clock, but, as above stated, conditions vary in different districts. Thus the horses are nine hours out of stable, and about eight hours actually at work. When the teams return, there is unharnessing, water- ing, grooming, and littering up, which will occupy at least an hour. The helpers then leave the stable, but the head carter will return about eight o’clock to feed his horses and fill their racks for the night. The carter has, there- fore, a long and arduous task, and a responsible position.