PLAN OF THE KENNEL 9 



Let such as Somerville directs be the situation : its size must be suited to 

 the number of its inhabitants : the architecture of it may be conformable 

 to your own taste. Useless expense I should not recommend ; yet, as 

 I 'suppose you will often make it a visit, at least in the hunting season, I 

 could wish it might have neatness without, as well as cleanliness within, 

 the more to allure you to it. I should, for the same reason, wish it to be 

 as near to your house as you will give it leave. I know there are many 

 objections to its being very near: I foresee still more to its being at a 

 distance. There is a vulgar saying, that it is the master's eye that makes 

 the horse fat : I can assure you, that it is even more necessary in the 

 kennel, where cleanliness is not less essential than food. 



There are, I make no doubt, many better kennels than mine ; some of 

 which you should see before you begin to build. You can but make use 

 of my plan, in case that you like no other better. If, in the meantime. 

 I am to' 'give you my opinion what a kennel ought to be, I must send you 

 a description of my own, for I have not seen many others. 



I would advise you to make it large enough at first, as any addition 

 afterwards must spoil the appearance of it. I have been obliged to add 

 to mine, which was built from a plan of my own, and intended, at first, 

 for a pack of beagles. My feeding-yard being too small, I will endeavour to 

 remedy that defect in the plan I send you, which plan may be still enlarged, 

 or lessened, as you think fit, or as your occasions may require. The feeding- 

 troughs should be wide at the bottom, and must have wooden covers. 



I think two kennels absolutely necessary to the well-being of the 

 hounds : when there is but one, it is seldom sweet ; and, when cleaned 

 out, the hounds, particularly in winter, suffer both whilst it is cleaning, 

 and as long as it remains wet afterwards. To be more clearly understood 

 by you, I shall call one of these the hunting-kennel, by which I mean that 

 kennel into which the hounds intended to hunt the next day, are drafted. 

 Used always to the same kennel, they will be drafted with little trouble ; 

 they will answer to their names more readily, and you may count your 

 hounds into the kennel with as much ease as a shepherd counts his 

 sheep out of the fold. 



When the feeder first comes to the kennel in a morning, he should 

 let out the hounds into the outer court ; and in bad weather he should 

 open the door of the hunting-kennel, lest want of rest should incline them 

 to go into it. The lodging-room should then be cleaned out, the doors 

 and windows of it opened, the litter shaken up, and the kennel made sweet 

 and clean, before the hounds return to it again. The great court and the 

 other kennels are not less to be attended to, nor should you pass over in 

 silence any omission that is hurtful to your hounds. 



The floor of each lodging-room should be bricked, and sloped on both 

 sides to run to the centre, with a gutter left to carry off the water, that 



