TREATMENT OP SAPLINGS 97 



to stretch their legs on the grass. At this period the food must 

 not be of too heating or fat-producing a nature, and cod-liver 

 oil must be eschewed, but old hound-meal, dog-biscuits, 

 lean horseflesh, 1 with carrots, turnips, vegetable marrows or 

 beetroots, will form the staple diet, and if a tonic is required 

 iron pills may be used ; also Parrish's food mixed with the 

 pudding, in the proportion of one teaspoonful to each dog, 

 will be found most beneficial. Now that the youngsters begin 

 to look like business, attendants are fond of polishing their 

 coats up too much ; but this should be delayed for three or 

 four months, as the benefit is only temporary, and is calculated 

 to produce a ragged and thin jacket later on. 



After a month's rest the road-work should begin once 

 more, and must be continued at an increased ratio till the 

 puppies are ready to enter upon strict training. 



The leisure can be employed in mapping out a campaign 

 for the coming season, and nominations must be taken for 

 suitable produce stakes. The season generally opens about 

 the middle of September. For early produce stakes it would 

 obviously be useless to enter anything born later than March, 

 or April at the outside ; for the more mature ones, that saw the 

 light at the ushering in of the new year, hold an advantage that 

 can only be wiped out by phenomenal merit, though the May 

 or June puppy may turn the tables in a stake run in the ensuing 

 spring, if not earlier. These facts will therefore guide the 

 courser in taking his nominations, and his plan for the season 

 being satisfactorily decided, he should not trouble himself 

 about the puppies until the beginning of July, beyond seeing 

 that they are properly fed, exercised and kept in a state of 

 boisterous health. 



* Few trainers use this ; the majority much prefer mutton. ED. 



