94 COURSING 



and such flats as those found at classic Altcar for here our 

 saplings run the danger not only of a terrible gruelling from 

 one hare, but may get on to another before they can be picked 

 up, thus being run to a standstill, and receiving a shock to the 

 system from which they may never recover, and in such cases 

 those of highest courage and promise are likely to be the first 

 victims. Very hilly country is to be avoided, and a flinty soil, 

 such as is found in Bucks and Herts, utterly forbids the slipping 

 of a valuable greyhound, as one course would be sufficient to 

 cut him to ribbons. Stubbles, too, are dangerous, and very apt 

 to produce sore feet. Suitable ground being for h coming, the 

 question as to the advisability of trying a sapling with an old 

 dog arises, and we have no hesitation in condemning the prac- 

 tice that is, for the first time of asking, for saplings are easily 

 discouraged. An old dog has an immense pull over one of 

 this age, and is pretty sure to take every advantage ; whereas 

 if two saplings run together they meet on even terms, and will 

 vie with one another, thus fostering the spirit of emulation 

 which is so necessary in a dog that is asked to win stakes. 



Should it be found impossible to obtain suitable trial-ground, 

 recourse must be had to sapling stakes, affairs that are regarded 

 with righteous horror by a large section of old-fashioned 

 coursers, who maintain that to run a sapling is to ruin him. No 

 doubt this prejudice arose before the days of enclosed meetings, 

 when there was always the risk of a dog being clean pumped 

 out ; for these stakes were held at large open meetings, on the 

 ground used for all-aged and puppy stakes. Moreover, many 

 coursers would send their saplings to the slips unfit to gallop 

 across a meadow, and how much more so to dust a hare ! But 

 at such enclosures as Haydock and Wye most useful trials for 

 saplings can be had, 1 and nothing but benefit is likely to accrue, 

 providing the youngsters have been properly prepared for the 

 ordeal. By this we do not mean thoroughly trained, a pro- 

 ceeding that would certainly ruin any sapling, but brought to 



1 Since this was written we are glad to note that enclosed coursing has 

 become practically extinct, and sapling stakes are also nearly unknown. ED. 



