332 TRAINING. 



either made light with the acid and soda, or with barm. Captains' 

 biscuits are generally full of weevils, and often musty, besides 

 which they contain* no oatmeal, and are made of fine flour. Loaves 

 made of about the weight of 1 Ib. each will keep well for ten 

 days or a fortnight, which is quite long enough for all practical 

 purposes. If kept beyond this time they become mouldy. 



6th. I have advised that at all times the water should be boiled, 

 for the purpose of preventing the development of worms, but even if 

 not done with this view, it is better to do so when the dogs are in 

 training, as by accustoming them to its use there is less danger of 

 a change of water disagreeing with them. 



7th. The hour for feeding when in training is usually from 

 twelve to one o'clock, but when actually running it is not always 

 possible to adhere to this rule. 



PRIVATE TRIALS. 



Before the greyhound is tested in public it is usual to see what 

 powers he has, by trying him against some well-known dog in 

 private, so as to prevent as far as possible the chance of disappoint- 

 ment which is so grievous to the courser. 



Even with this precaution it too often happens that the antici- 

 pations formed by the owner are not realised, but this is dependent 

 more upon defect in his judgment than upon the plan itself. 

 Sometimes the private trial is not conducted in the same way as 

 the public one. The slip is too short, or the ground is different, 



