570 MODERN FARRIER. 



the mischief incurred, will attach a proportioned 

 deficiency of effect. To the quick process of drying 

 powder, generally adopted, many other objections 

 may be urged, besides that of the grains being there- 

 by hardened to an improper degree. If the article 

 be kept as above described, there will be no necessity 

 whatever of drying, and the respective loads will 

 then have each its due and respective power. 



Shot. 



The patent shot is now generally used, and it is 

 important to the success of the chase that the sports- 

 man should proportion the size of the shot, as well 

 to the particular species of game he means to pursue, 

 as to the season of killing it. 



In partridge-shooting, during the month of Sep- 

 tember, No. 7, 8, or even 9, may be used, (though 

 some choose No. 6, and others, more ridiculously, 

 3, or 4,) for, at this time, birds spring near at hand, 

 and their feathers are less capable of resisting the 

 shot, than at a more advanced period of the year, 

 Hares, also, at this season, sit closer, and are more 

 thinly covered with fur. 



About the beginning of October, at which time 

 partridges are stronger in the wing. No. 5 will, per- 

 haps, answer best. This size seems to preserve a 

 proper medium between shot too large, and that 

 which is too small, and will kill a hare at the distance 

 of forty, or even sixty yards, and a partridge at 

 seventy, or more. In short, it is adapted for all 

 seasons, and many sportsmen use no other. It is 

 true, that distant objects are frequently missed for 

 want of larger shot ; but then these bear no propor- 

 tion to the number which are missed by using shot 

 of too large a size, especially with the feathered game, 

 which enables them to escape in the vacant spaces of 

 the circle or disk described by the shot. 



