102 FOX-HUNTING 



to get his sample and submit it to the inspection 

 of one or two other farmers ; then if the quality 

 is good you can offer a shilling a quarter more 

 than market price. Hay is not so easy to 

 arrange. In the first place, if you buy in the 

 stack it is very difficult to ascertain the quality, 

 and many farmers are very careless in their 

 methods of making hay. I think the best way 

 is to have a cutting made into the stack, then, if 

 the interior is of a bright colour and smells sweet, 

 you can give rather more than the market price 

 and have it delivered at your stables. The cost of 

 cutting, trussing, and delivering, say two miles, 

 would be about ten shillings, and a little more 

 may be added to the price for only inside trusses. 

 Unless, however, your balance at the bank permits 

 you to pay ready money, do not purchase forage 

 from the farmer, or you will do more harm than 

 good. By giving a shade more than market price 

 the farmer will get that little profit which would 

 go into the dealer's pockets. Of course you must 

 not buy any forage out of the country if it is 

 possible to procure any in the neighbourhood. 



The middleman is, I am sorry to say, a neces- 

 sity in most of a farmer's transactions with the 



