ECONOMICAL SPORT. 135 



other hand, while weather is on our thoughts, think of 

 the sport often to be enjoyed on wet days, or cold raw 

 days, and in every description of weather barring frost. 

 Often the run of the season may be shown on a day 

 on which, but for hunting, you would not have been 

 persuaded to leave your fireside. You cannot fish nor 

 shoot in rain, but you can hunt, even if uncomfortably. 

 The performance at dinner, and the subsequent enjoy- 

 ment of a night's rest, by the man who has been hunting, 

 should be compared with that of the one who has spent 

 the day by the fire. It will not require a conjuror to tell 

 which is the best business. 



The expenses of a two-horse establishment will very 

 little exceed 100Z. a year. Even at present high prices, 

 a horse can be foraged and shod for 40L per annum, 

 especially if the forage be bought at first hand and paid 

 for ready money. Horse keep is expensive when every 

 grain of oats passes through perhaps three pairs of hands, 

 each of which must make their separate profit on it. 

 Straw, for example, when bought from the farmer and 

 returned in the form of manure, comes to a very different 

 figure from what it does when the stud groom buys it of 

 the corn and hay dealer ; indeed, in many countries it is 

 to be had for nothing. One man will look after two 

 horses ; and here let me advise that he should be a man, 

 even if his wages be a little more, and not a lad. It has 

 been well said that it takes one man's time to look after 

 a boy. 125 per annum should cover everything well, 

 bar accidents. First, however, the horses must be got, 

 and a good judge will find two " useful " animals for 

 50Z. apiece, possibly less. But if the intending pur- 

 chaser be not a good judge, he should find a friend who 

 is to see to the deal for him. An ignorant youth in 



