296 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



dirt and hair from another's coat. It was, however, one of the 

 fashions of that day, and, not to be considered out of the fashion, 

 I gave it a fair trial ; but one season satisfied me that it could 

 not be adopted as a general practice, without more injury than 

 benefit to the hounds. Where there is a lodging-room, heated 

 with hot air, into which the hounds may be turned after the 

 bath, it may do very well ; but subjecting them to the cold 

 night air, in the depth of mnter, in passing them through the 

 courts into the greenyard, after coming out of a reeking hot 

 bath, cannot, in my opinion, be otherwise than injurious, 



CHAPTER XLV. 



Estimates of expenses of a fox-hunting establishment — Wages, food, and 

 allowances — Quality of land — Expenses for two days a week — Selection 

 of hunters — Objection to "screws" — Other items of expense — Saddles, 

 bridles, rugs, &c. — Economy may and should be observed — Reasons for 

 leaving out of the list the farrier — The huntsman's book, or annual biU — 

 Earth-stopping, and fees to keepers — Advantages of the old system in 

 preventiag needless extortion — Proposals for a remedy of the evil — 

 Opinion of Mr. Delme EadclifFe. 



As various estimates have been made by diiferent writers on 

 the expenses of a fox-hunting establishment, it may not be 

 amiss to give a rough estimate of the necessary outlay, and an- 

 nual disbursement of a two days per week establishment. Fees 

 to keepers, earth-stopping, and such like extras, are not included 

 in this calculation, as they vary sa very much, according to the 

 district, that ho one can form anything more than a wide guess 

 as to their probable amount. The wages of servants are entirely 

 irrespective of perquisites or field money, and therefore admit 

 of modification, when a sure income from these resources can 

 be reckoned on. The servants are allowed to be of first-class, 

 but the master's individual expenses are not included, as he is 

 supposed to keep a stud for his own amusement. The calcula- 

 tion is made for a provincial country, where the master Imnts 

 his own hounds, and conducts the afi'air upon a liberal scale. 



First Whipper-in, £80. Clothes and £ s. d. 



boots, £iO 90 



Second do. £52. Do. do. £lO . 62 



Feeder 31 



£183 



