40 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



their meat ; and every Sunday throughout the year 

 they have plenty of greens boiled up with it : I find 

 it better to fix the days, as it is then less liable to be 

 forgotten. I used to give them the wash from the 

 kitchen, but I found it made them thirsty ; and it is 

 now omitted in the hunting-season. A horse fresh 

 killed is an excellent meal for hounds, after a very 

 hard day ; but they should not hunt till the third day 

 after it. The bones broken are good food for poor 

 hounds, as there is great proof in them. Sheep- 

 trotters are very sweet food, and will be of service 

 when horse-flesh is not to be had. Bullocks' bellies 

 may be also of some use, if you can get nothing else. 

 Oatmeal, I believe, makes the best meat for hounds : 

 barley is certainly the cheapest ; and in many kennels 

 they give barley on that account ; but it is heating, 

 does not mix up so well, nor is there so much proof 

 in it as in oatmeal. If mixed (an equal quantity of 

 each), it will then do very well ; but barley alone will 

 not. Much also depends on the goodness of the 

 meal itself, which is not often attended to. If you 

 do not use your own, you should buy a large quantity 

 of it any time before harvest, and keep it by you : 

 there is no other certainty, I believe, of having it old ; 

 which is more material, perhaps, than you are aware 

 of. I have heard, that a famous Cheshire huntsman 

 feeds his hounds with wheat, which he has found to 

 be the best food : he gives it them with the bran. 

 It would cause no little disturbance in many neigh- 

 bourhoods, if other sportsmen were to do the 

 same. 



