996 NIMIIOD'S NORTIIEUN TOUR. 



means, having little to do during that period, the men recover their 

 bodily strength against the next season, and each is then nearly equal to 

 a man and a half — for be it known, reader, that there are few more 

 debilitating daily tasks allotted to those who must live by the sweat of 

 their brow, than that of helper in a hunting stable ! 



There is one system pursued in these stables during the winter 

 months, which is, I think, deserving of notice. William Mollison only 

 opens those of the horses not at work, twice in the course of the day, 

 and not three times, as is the usual practice. His plan is this: — Instead 

 of the horses being exposed in their exercise to the chilling effect of the 

 first dawn of the morning — generally the coldest period of the whole 

 twenty-four hours — they remain in the stables till the men have had 

 their breakfast, and are consequently not shut up till a little before mid- 

 day. The curtains being then drawn, and all kept quiet, they have a 

 long " shut up" as it is called — namely, six good hours, during which 

 they not only can repose themselves undisturbed, but they return to their 

 food with encreased appetite, by reason of their having been somewhat 

 the longer without it, I must own that, although I never tried it, I see 

 sound argument in favour of this stable management during the three 

 dark and dreary months of winter, with horses that work hard, from a 

 knowledge of the restorative powers of undisturbed rest, both with 

 horse and man ; as also of its sedative effects in allaying excitement, by 

 whatever cause produced. 



Having mentioned Bolivar, Provincial, and White Stockings, it may 

 not be amiss to repeat, what I believe I once before stated, namely, that, 

 with the exception of Clinker, The Clipper (by Julius Ceesar, not the 



