i6o THE COMPLETE FOXHUNTER 



was a row of saddles, which had been used on the 

 previous day, with the insides placed to catch the sun. 

 We pointed it out to the artist, who promptly made a 

 sketch, and this duly appeared in the Graphic^ but how 

 long ago we do not remember. 



Once when visiting the Devon and Somerset country 

 in September we were struck with the extraordinary 

 number of sore backs we found, or heard of among the 

 hirelings, and discovered that business was so brisk 

 that even if the horses were rested once or twice a week 

 the saddles were always in use, and were brought out 

 almost everyday. The consequence was that not suffi- 

 cient time was allowed for the drying process, and as 

 has been remarked, very often a damp saddle will give 

 a horse a sore back, more especially if the saddle is lined 

 with leather. Leather takes even longer to dry properly 

 than the ordinary padding of the average saddle, and in 

 this particular case leather-lined saddles, or leather 

 rummalls, were largely used. 



The would-be Meltonian, then, must grudge no 

 expense in horseflesh, in hunting clothes, and in sad- 

 dlery. He must also subscribe liberally to each pack 

 with which he hunts, and must also be prepared to 

 subscribe to the many funds which are maintained by 

 hunting men. Beyond the ordinary subscription there 

 are in many packs extra funds for rent of coverts, 

 poultry, damage of all sorts, and the removing and 

 replacing of wire. There are, too, the Hunt Servants' 

 Benefit Society and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent 

 Institution, and the hunting man of means should 

 make a point of subscribing to all these. Then, too, 

 local agricultural societies, testimonials, and tips to the 

 hunt servants must all be borne in mind, and in point 

 of fact the stranger who goes into any country with 



