64 KOTES FOE HUXTIXG-MEN 



you \Yill learn far more by studying them yourself, 

 with an expert, if possible, to show you good stuff 

 from bad. The British officer of the present day 

 goes through a course in this subject, and a very 

 useful course it is. If possible, buy your forage 

 direct from a farmer in the country you hunt in. 

 Nothing brings the benefit of hunting more forcibly 

 home to a farmer than getting from you, a hunting- 

 man, more than a dealer will give him for his oats 

 and straw, and considerably more than the con- 

 sumer's price for his hay. Of course you should 

 let him have the middle-man's profit ; that is, give 

 him the dealer's price for his stuff. You owe that 

 to him for riding over his land. If you cannot find 

 a farmer to supply you, go to a good local dealer ; 

 but it is as well to watch the market prices for the 

 various things, especially the odds and ends, like 

 linseed, oatmeal, &c. 



Do not buy foreign stuff. It is rarely so good 

 as the home-grown produce, and, whatever your 

 views may be as to free trade, every 

 hunting-man should do all in his power to 

 support British agriculture, even if it cost him a 

 trifle more, as he owes his sport entirely to the 

 British agriculturist. Your oats should be old, 

 that is, thrashed a year before the current season. 

 They should be big, bold, hard and clean. General 

 Fitz-Wygram maintains that an equal weight of 



