THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 85 



a^:)Out the first week in August, for it is well, to see 

 hunters improve in flesh, upon green meat, and good 

 summering ; but they forget that, within a month of 

 the time when they are beginning to get their pigs and 

 porpoises into trim, they will want them to fly like the 

 wind, and be sorely disappointed if, hke Icarus, they 

 are dissolved in the attempt. 



The ground is generally so hard, in September and 

 October, as to furnish some excuse for shortness of work, 

 though none for attempting to ride horses to hounds, if 

 they have been subjected to this disadvantage. It is, 

 literally, hard indeed if you cannot find some place for 

 regular exercise, without fear of knocking their legs to 

 pieces ; and the degrees of exercise must be gradual and 

 progressive, till you arrive at something in your drills 

 and sham fights resembling the realities of the ensuing 

 campaign. Commencing with plenty of walking exer- 

 cise, for, at least, three or four hours (either three at 

 once in the morning, or going out twice a day for two 

 hours), during the first six weeks, from the beginning of 

 August till the middle of September, by which time they 

 will have got through their physic, even if three doses 

 are given (and I think two generally sufiicient), they may 

 then proceed to trot and canter daily, and, by the first 

 week in October, they will be fit for a smart gallop ; they 

 should not be hurried, or, at any time, extended to their 

 utmost speed, but must go a long, steady gallop, at about 

 three-quarters speed, to accustom them to stay a dis- 

 tance, and acquire that sine quel noii of power which we 



