SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 251 



be debited in his establishment in place of guano or 

 other artificial manures now so extensively used. 

 These act rather as stimulants than strengthening 

 to the soil, afford it no permanent improvement, 

 and are chiefly employed in the cultivation of root 

 crops, whereas a proper dressing of kennel manure 

 will leave its mark upon the land for years. 



Having been a farmer as well as foxhunter, we can 

 attest the accuracy of this ; in fact, a few years after 

 the commencement of our career as M. F. H., we 

 were forced into the farming line rather against our 

 inclination, by the tenant of the home farm so 

 mismanaging his land, taking everything out of it 

 and putting very little in, that the necessity was 

 laid upon us of taking it into our own hands, or 

 letting it to another for a mere song. We adopted 

 the former course, upon the recommendation of a 

 first-class agriculturist in the neighbourhood; but 

 having no practical knowledge of the business, we 

 pressed our friend into a farming tour, to see how 

 things were done in other counties. At that time 

 Sussex had obtained great notoriety for its breeders 

 of Southdown sheep, and this sort being considered 

 the best to work poor laud into condition, thither 

 we bent our steps, and were gratified with a sight of 

 the Duke of Richmond's and the late celebrated 

 Ellman's beautiful flocks, from which our stock were 

 subsequently descended, with a cross of the Wilt- 

 shire down, an animal of larger frame, and better 

 adapted to folding than the highest bred South- 

 downs. 



