The ancient art of making hurdles is fast dying out. In a small
Hampshire village, where a score of hurdlers could have been found a
quarter of a century ago, to-day but one or two old men remain who can
make a hurdle of the genuine sort. The reason is not that hurdle-making
is profitless, for there is a demand for good workers, and the rate
of pay is higher than of old--from four to five shillings for a dozen
hurdles, which represent a day's hard work. But few boys follow the old
calling of the hurdler, probably because a long apprenticeship must be
served. There is difficulty in finding a qualified man to take a boy
in charge; and for a long while the boy would be useful only to strip
the rods of knots, and would earn but a nominal wage. At other work
his earnings would be enough at least to pay his share of the family
expenses at home. So that few hurdlers see their way to teach even
their own sons this honourable trade.
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