42 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



hounds go for whey, till the hunting season begins ; 

 are kept out several hours ; and are often made to 

 swim through rivers, during the hot weather. 1 After 

 the last physic, and before they begin to hunt, they 

 are exercised on the turnpike road, to harden their 

 feet, which are washed with strong brine as soon as 

 they come in. Little straw is necessary during the 

 summer ; but when they hunt they cannot have too 

 much, or have it changed too often. In many 

 kennels they do not boil for the hounds in summer, 

 but give them meal only : in mine it is always boiled ; 

 but with this difference, that it is mixed up thin, 

 instead of thick. Many give spurge-laurel in summer, 

 boiled up in their meat : as I never use it, I cannot 

 recommend it. The physic that I give, is two 

 pounds of sulphur, one pound of antimony, and a 

 pint and a half of syrup of buckthorn, for about forty 

 couple of hounds. 2 In the winter season, let your 

 hounds be shut up warm at night. If, after hunting, 

 any hounds be missing, the straw-house door should 

 be left open ; and, if they have had a hard day, it 

 may be as well to leave some meat there for them. 



1 have inquired of my feeder (who is a good one, 



[ J Hounds should be walked out every day in the summer. Success 

 in the future season will largely depend on the trouble that has been 

 taken in getting the pack fit beforehand. In the six weeks previous to 

 the commencement of the season, hounds should have at least two hours' 

 exercise on the roads daily, and twice a week they should have six 

 hours', if the sun is not too hot. On these occasions the men may take 

 them out three hours before breakfast with one lot of horses and three 

 hours afterwards with fresh mounts. If a saving of horses is a con- 

 sideration, and the men can ride bicycles, these useful machines may be 

 substituted.] 



2 Vide page 29. 



