HUNTSMAN SHOULD BE PUNCTUAL 199 



may require more hounds than others. It is not an 

 easy matter to draft hounds properly ; nor can any 

 expedition be made in it without some method. 1 



I seldom suffer many unsteady hounds to be taken 

 out together ; and when I do, I take care that none 

 shall go with them but such as they cannot spoil. 



When the place and time of meeting are fixed, 

 every huntsman ought to be as exact to them as it is 

 possible. On no account is he to be before the time ; 

 yet, on some occasions, it might be better, perhaps, for 

 the diversion, were he permitted to be after it? The 

 course that your huntsman intends to take in drawing, 

 ought also to be well understood before he leaves the 

 kennel. 



If your huntsman, without inconveniency, can begin 

 drawing at the farthest cover down the wind, and 



1 No hound ought to be left at home, unless there be a reason for it ; 

 it is therefore that I say, great nicety is required to draft hounds properly. 

 Many huntsmen, I believe, think it of no great consequence which they 

 take out, and which they leave, provided they have the number requisite. 

 A perfect knowledge in feeding and drafting hounds, are the two most 

 essential parts of fox-hunting : good hounds will require but little assist- 

 ance afterwards. By feeding, I mean the bringing the hound into the 

 field in his highest vigour ; by drafting, I particularly mean the taking 

 out no unsteady hound, nor any that are not likely to be of service to the 

 pack. When you intend to hunt two days following, it is then that the 

 greatest nicety will be requisite to make the most of a small pack. 

 Placing hounds to the greatest advantage, as mentioned page 189, may 

 also be considered as a necessary part of fox-hunting. 



Hounds that are intended to hunt the next day, and are drafted off 

 into the hunting-kennel as soon as they are fed, should be let out again 

 into the outer court in the evening : my hounds have generally some thin 

 meat given them at this time, while the feeder cleans out their kennel. 

 ( Vide note, p. 38.) I have already said, that cleanliness is not less 

 essential than food. 



2 When there is a white frost, for instance ; at the going off of which 

 the scent never lies. 



