LETTER I. 5 



all these combined. For some years there was a malady 

 of this sort, said to be peculiar to the New Forest, and 

 attributed by some to the boggy nature of the ground 

 over which the hounds had to run ; by others to the 

 little stunted gorse so prevalent on the open heath. 

 Mr. Nicol, however, I believe, thought differently, and 

 tried various expedients to render the kennels more 

 healthy, and had the benches constructed so high off the 

 ground that the hounds went up stairs to bed. I do not 

 hear that the pack which now hunts the New Forest 

 country have been affected with the same malady, and 

 this, I think, is owing to a change of situation, as I have 

 seen hounds from other kennels labourinsr under similar 

 attacks, which have recovered when removed to more 

 healthy situations. No doubt greater attention is paid 

 in these enlightened days to the comfort and health 

 of hounds ; yet much remains to be done, and many 

 prejudices of huntsmen to be removed. 



In building new kennels, the earth should be removed 

 from the lodging-room floor, to the depth of a foot at 

 least, and in its place broken stones, sifted gravel, or 

 cinders substituted, with a layer of fine coal ashes, upon 

 which the bricks or floor is to be laid in hot coal ash 

 mortar. Bricks are preferable to stone. Outside the 

 walls a drain about three feet deep should be constructed, 

 with a draining pipe of two inches bore at the bottom, 

 and filled up with broken stones to within six inches of 

 the surface. This drain is to be carried quite round the 

 building, and will fall into the main sewer. For a roof 

 to the building I prefer thatch to tiles, as affording more 

 warmth in winter and coolness in summer, but as slate 

 tiles are more agreeable to the eye, a thin layer of reed 

 placed under the tiles will answer the purpose. 



