HORSES AND HOUNDS. 219 



looked to myself, when paying a visit to the stable the last 

 thing at night. A tired horse should have everything comfort- 

 able about him, but carefully avoid any tight bandage round the 

 body. In over-reaches or wounds, warm water was our first 

 application, and plenty of it, to clean all dirt or grit from the 

 wound ; then Fryer's balsam and brandy, with a clean linen 

 bandage. Our usual allowance of corn to each horse per diem 

 was four quarterns, but more if they required it, and from 14lbs. 

 to 16lbs. of hay, eight of which were given at night, at racking- 

 up time, about eight o'clock. Our hours of feeding were about 

 five in the morning, a feed of corn, bruised, with a little hay 

 chaff ; the horse then went to exercise. At eight o'clock, 4lbs. 

 of hay ; twelve o'clock, feed of corn ; two o'clock, 2lbs. of hay ; 

 four o'clock, corn ; at six o'clock, another feed of corn, "udth 

 chaff ; and at eight o'clock, 8lbs. of hay ; water they could always 

 drink when they wanted it. The day after hunting, I should 

 add, our horses were kept as quiet as possible, their boxes lit- 

 tered down with plenty of straw, the stable darkened, and the 

 key of it in the groom's pocket. 



It is a very simple process to make young dogs handy. First 

 give them names and make them understand them. If you 

 can find time to feed them yourself, do so, calling them by 

 name to their food ; if not, take them out walking with you 

 every day for an hour or two ; put some hard biscuits in your 

 pocket, give the dog a few bits at starting, call him by name oc- 

 casionally when running forward, and every time he returns to 

 you when called, give him a piece of biscuit ; pat him and 

 caress him the while. Follow this lesson for a' week or ten days, 

 and the dog will soon begin not only to know but to love his 

 master. Young dogs should always be fed twice a day — morn- 

 ing and evening. There are some persons to whom dogs become 

 more readily attached than to others. The eye and the voice 

 are a terror to some, as they are also an attraction to other 

 animals. A soft eye, beaming with gentleness and good temper, 

 is a point to which the instinct of the canine race naturally 

 directs them, nor are they often deceived in its expression. 

 Kind and benevolent looks have as great an influence over the 

 animal as they have over the human species. They are, more- 

 over, a sure criterion of temper. 



The best food for all sporting dogs is old oatmeal, boiled until 

 it is as thick as a stiff rice pudding ; then reduce it, by adding 

 either milk or broth. Pot liquor is very heating, and not fit for 

 dogs wliicli work hard. Sheep's paunches, also, well washed, 

 and boiled afterwards, are most heartening food, mixed with a 

 little oatmeal. In fact, I should select this as the very best and 



