78 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



have two indifferent packs, instead of one good 

 one. 



In the other method, the young hounds are well 

 awed from sheep, but never stooped to a scent till 

 they are taken out with the pack: they are then taken 

 out, a few only at a time ; and, if your pack be 

 perfectly steady, and well manned, may not give you 

 much trouble. The method I first mentioned, is that 

 which I most commonly practise, being most suitable 

 to the number of young hounds that I usually enter — 

 nine or ten couple : if you have fewer, the last will 

 be most convenient. The one which requires two 

 distinct packs, is on too extensive a plan to suit your 

 establishment, requiring more horses and more hounds 

 than you intend to keep. 1 



Though I have mentioned, in a former Letter, 

 from eight to twelve couple of young hounds, as a 

 sufficient number to keep up your pack to its present 

 establishment ; yet it is always best to have a reserve 



1 To render fox-hunting perfect, no young hounds should be taken 

 into the pack the first season ; a requisite too expensive for most sports- 

 men. The pack should consist of about forty couple of hounds, that 

 have hunted one, two, three, four, or five seasons. The young pack 

 should consist of about twenty couple of young hounds, and about an 

 equal number of old ones. They should have a separate establishment ; 

 nor should the two kennels be near enough to interfere with each 

 other. The season over, the best of the young hounds should be taken 

 into the pack, and the draft of old ones exchanged for them. To enable 

 you every season to take in twenty couple of young hounds, many must 

 be bred ; and, of course, the greater your choice, the handsomer your 

 pack will become. It will always be easy to keep up the number of old 

 hounds ; for, when your own draft is not sufficient, drafts from other 

 packs may easily be obtained, and at a small expense. When young 

 hounds are hunted together the first season, and have not a sufficient 

 number of old hounds along with them, it does them more harm than 

 good. 



