Introduction

GV 1189 .H66 Copy i PRICE 15 Cts. �m IF--^ C. F. A. HiNRICHS, No. 29 to 33 Park Place, NEW YORK. + t> It is scarcely needful to say anything in praise of Archery. It holds its place as the first of English sports, and is rapidly becom- ing popular in America. It trains the eye, imparls a good and graceful carriage, expands the chest, and gives plenty of walking exercise without fatigue ; moreover, it is equally adapted for both sexes. The Equipment of the Archer. The first thing we have to consider is what constitutes the neces- -- sary outfit for an archer how it should be chosen, and how taken care of. Before choosing his outfit, the archer should find a good maker, and obtain from him a list of prices; having done so, he will be able to determine what expense he is willing to go to, and then to apply the following hints in choosing his apparatus. Let us, however, entreat him not to sacrifice all his hopes of future success to a desire to get cheap things; let him rely upon it that things obtained at a fair cost from a good maker are twice as cheap as those whose only recommendation is their low price. The following list will show a&(?ii^ what is a fair price, and may be a guide to our readers in future selections. ARCHERY. EQUIPMENTS FOR LADIES. EQUIPMENTS FOR GENTLEMEN. Fine Backed Bows, il4 to 53^ ft., $4.50 to 6. 00 each. Lemon Wood Bows, 4i^ to 53^ ft., $4.00 to $5.00 each. Lance Wood Bows, 43^ to 53^ ft. (to weight), $2.75 to $4.00 each. Lance Wood Bowa i% ^^ 53^ ft. (ordinary), 75c. to $2.25 each. Practising Arrows, 25 inch $1.50 to $3.50 per doz. , Finest French Arrows, 25 inch, (we can higlily recommend this kind) $3.50 toS5.00per doz. Old Deal Arrows, 25 inch, $5.50 to $7.00 per doz. Best Footed Arrows, 25 inch., $8.50 to ^11 00 per doz. Best Flemish Bow-Strings, 25c. to 50c. each. Quivers $1.50 to |2.75 each. Arm Guards, $1.25 to $2.00 each. Shooting Glove, 63c. to $1.50 each Tips for Bows. . . .50e. per pair. Tassel 60c. to 75c. each. Targets $1.00 to $7.00 each. Target Stands, $2-50 to $5.00 each. Bow Covers (green baize), 75c. each. Scoring Cards and Tablets, Ivory and Ebony Prickers, &c., 25c. to $2.00 each. Fine Backed Bows, 6 ft. $9.00 to 12,00 each. Lemon Wood Bows, 6 ft. $5.00 to $6.00 each. Lance Wood Bows, 6 ft. (to weight) $4.00 to $5 00 each. Lance Wood Bows, 6 ft. (ordinary), $1.50 to $2.50 each. Practising Arrows, 28 inch, .$2.00 to $4. 00 per doz. Finest French Arrows, 28 inch, (we can highly recommend this kind) $5.00 to 1 6. 00 per doz. Old Deal Arrows, 28 inch, $6.00 to $7.50 per doz. Best Footed Arrows, 28 inch, $9.00 to $12.00 per doz. Best Flemish Bow-Strings, 25c. to 50c. each. Quivers |2.50 to $3.50 each. Arm Guards, �1.00 to $2.00 each. Shooting Glove, 75c. to $2.00 each. Tips for Bows. . .75c. per pair. Tassel 50c. to 75c. each. Targets .... $1.00 to $7.00 each. Target Stands. $2.50 to $5.00 each. Bow Covers (green baize), 75c. each. Scoring Cards and Tablets, Ivory and Ebony Prickers, &c,, from 25c. to 12.00 each. -- Note. Backed Bows are far superior to the Self ones as regards elasticity and durability. ARCHERY. The Bow. Bows are of two kinds. The s^?/" bow consists either of one piece of wood or of two dovetailed together at the handle, in which latter case it is called a grafted bow ; by far the best material for a self bow is yew, although a variety of other woods, such as lemonwood, lancewood, &c. , are used. As it is but very rarely that we are able to obtain a piece of yew long enough for a bow of equal quality through- out, the grafted bow was invented, in order that the two limbs, being formed by splitting one piece of wood into two strips, may be of exactly the same nature. Fig, 1. The hacked bow consists of two or more strips of wood glued to- gether longitudinally and compressed so as to ensure perfect union. -- The strips may be of the same or of different woods for instance, of yew backed with yew, yew with hickory, lancewood, &c. ; but of all backed bows snakewood backed with hickory is far the best. It has been a great subject of controversy whether the self or the back- ed bow be the best for shooting purposes ; we most unhesitatingly decide in favor of the backed. How TO Choose it. In purchasing a bow, it is always better to go to a good maker; the inferior makers, although they may sell their goods a trifle cheaper, are still not to be depended upon, and as a good deal concerning a bow has to be taken upon tvu^X--e.g., whether the wood is properly seasoned, horns firmly fastened, &c.--a maker who has a reputa- 4 ARCHERY. tion to lose always proves the cheapest in the end. Having selected a maker and determined on the price you are willing to give, you will proceed to see that the bow tapers gradually from the handle to horns; that the wood is of straight, even grain, running longitudinally and free from knots and pins, or that, if there are any pins, they are rendered innocuous by having the wood left raised around them. The bow should be quite straight, or even follow the string (bend in the direction it will take when strung) a little. Beware of a bow which bends away from the string; it will jar your arms out of their sockets, and should the string break, there will be an end of it. See that both limbs are of equal strength, in which case they will describe equal curves. The handle should not be quite in the middle of the bow, but the upper edge of it should be about an inch above the centre. See that there are no sharp edges to the nocks on the horns of the bow, for if they are not properly rounded off they will be continually cutting your string. Lastly, make sure that your bow is not beyond your strength --in other words, that you are not overbowed. It is a very common thing for persons to choose very strong bows un- der the idea that it gives them the appearance of being perfect Samsons; but their ungainly struggles to bend their weapon^ and the utterly futile results of their endeavors, are, we think, anything but dignified. The weight of the bow should be such that it can be bent without straining, and held steadily during the time of taking aim. The strength of bows is calculated by their iceight, which is stamped in pounds upon them, and which denotes the power which it takes to bend the bow until the centre of the string is a certain dis- tance (twenty-eight inches for a gentleman's, twenty-five inches for a lady's bow) from the handle. It is ascertained by suspending the bow by the handle from a steelyard whilst the string is drawn the re- quired distance. Gentlemen's bows generally range from 48 lbs. to 56 lbs., and ladies' from 20 lbs. to 32 lbs. AKCHERY. How TO Preserve it. Many things will spoil a bow which a little care and attention would prevent. Amongst the most fatal enemies to the bow are chrysals (see Glossary), which, unless noticed in time, will surely end A in a fracture. chrysal should at once be tightly lapped with fine string saturated with glue; this, if neatly done and then varnished, will interfere but little with the appearance of the bow. Care should be taken not to scratch or bruise the bow. When shooting in damp weather, the bow, especially if a backed one, should be kept well wiped, and perfectly dried with a waxed cloth before putting A away. backed bow is always the better for a little lapping round each end just by the horn, which prevents the bow from breaking if A by any chance the glue is softened by damp. bow should always be kept as dry as possible ; when going to shoot at a distance, a waterproof cover is advisable. Do not unstring the bow too often while shooting; once in every six double ends is quite enough, un- less there are many shooters. ^^^^^ =c=> Fig. 2. The Arrow. Arrows are distinguished by weight in the same manner as bows, only in the former it is calculated as weighed against silver ARCHERY. money, and arrows are known as of so many shillings weight. &c. The lengths and weights recommended by the best authorities are as follows: Length, For ladies 25 in. f Bows of 50 lbs. and up- I For gentlemen. J wards, and 6 feet [� 28 " long. Bows under 50 lbs. and not exceeding 5 ft. [- 28 " L 10 in, long. Weight. 2s. :id. to 3s. 3d 4 6 "5 6 3 6 ''4 6 There are two kinds of arrows self, made of one piece of wood, 2iX\di footed, having a piece of hard wood at the pile end. The latter are the best for several reasons, one being that they are not so likely to break if they strike anything hard. The best, material for arrows is red deal footed with lancewood. ^ How TO Choose it. The first thing to ascertain is whether it is quite straight, which is done by bringing the tips of the thumb and two first fingers of the left hand together and laying the arrow thereon, while it is turned round by the right hand. If it goes smoothly, it is straight; but if it jerks at all it is crooked. Then make sure that it is stiff enough to stand the force of the bow without bending, as, if too weak, it wili never fly straight. The pile or point siiould be what is called the square- shouldered pile; some prefer the sharp pile, but the other an swers best for all purposes. The nock should be full and the notch pretty deep; a piece of horn should be let in at the notch to prevent the string splitting the arrow. The feathers should be full-sized; evenly and well cut, and inserted at equal distances from each other, as shown in the plate. It has been much disputed whether the Bob- tailed, the Chested, the Barrelled, or the Straight an'owis the best to shoot with (see Glossary). Horace Ford, the champion shot, de cides in favor of the straight arrow, and our readers cannot do bet AKCHEKY. ter than take his advice. Tlie �itow should be carefully wiped each time it is picked up, and this not only to preserve it, but also because the lenst particle of diit clinging to the pile will effectually spoil the flight of the arrow. Every care should be taken to keep the feathers smooth and stiff ; if attention be not paid to this point everything else will be in vain. Should they by chance become ruffled, a little warming in front of a fire (not too close) will generally restore them.. The Bow-String. The best bow-strings are of foreign manufacture, and ate generally sold complete; but in case any of