HUNTING DIRECTORY. 135 



Young Hounds. 



required ; for instance, when that number is very con- 

 siderable, I make a large draft of my steadiest hounds, 

 Avhich are kept with the young hounds in a separate 

 kennel, and are hunted with them all the fore part of 

 the season. This, when the old hounds begin to hunt, 

 makes two distinct packs, and is always attended with 

 great trouble and inconvenience. Nothing hurts a pack 

 so much as to enter many young hounds, since it must 

 weaken it considerably by robbing it of those which are 

 the most steady ; and yet young hounds can do nothing 

 without their assistance. Such, therefore, as constantly 

 enter their young hounds in this manner, will, sometimes 

 at least, have two indifterent packs, instead of one good 

 one. 



*' In the other method, the young hounds are well 

 awed from sheep, but never stooped to a scent, till they 

 are taken out with the pack ; they are then taken out 

 a few only at a time ; and if your pack is perfectly steady, 

 and well manned, may not give you much trouble. The 

 method I first mentioned, which is the one I most com- 

 monly practise, will be necessary when you have many 

 young hounds to enter ; when you have only a few, the 

 last will be most convenient. The other, which requires 

 two distinct packs, is on too extensive a plan to suit your 

 establishment, requiring more horses and hounds than 

 you intend to keep. 



"Though I have mentioned, in a former letter, from 

 eight to twelve couple of young hounds, as a sufficient 

 number to keep up your pack to its present establish- 

 ment, yet it is always best to keep a few couple more 

 than you want, in reserve, in case of accidents : since, 



