42 THE sportsman's vade mecum. 



liquor. By cleaning the potatoes before peeling, and popping 

 all into the dog pot, a considerable saving is eflfected in a 

 year, and the dogs are benefited thereby. Mangel Wurtzel 

 and RutaBagas, I behave they call them this side the water, 

 are easily grown, and are good food, boiled up with soup. 



CONDITION. 



This brings me on to what is termed " condition," in other 

 words, that form of body best adapted to undergo long and 

 continued exertion. It is equally certain that a dog too fat, 

 as well as one all skin and bone, is not in this state. These 

 are the two forms from which diflferent people start to bring 

 their animals to the mark. Of the two, I certainly prefer 

 the fat one. During the summer time, dogs should have 

 plenty of air, water, and exercise. This is easily managed by 

 taking them out whenever you go walking or riding, or 

 letting them be loose all day, kennelling at night, and when 

 this is done, by a mild dose of physic a fortnight before the 

 season, and additional exercise along a hard road to harden 

 their feet, say two or three hours daily, you have your dogs 

 in fair working order. When you have a dog too fat, you 

 must purge him, and put him through a course of long but 

 slow exercise at first, quickening by degrees, till you work 

 off the fat, and leave substance and muscle in its place. 

 With a lean dog you have a far harder job to manage, and 

 one which takes a long time to accomplish. A mild dose to 

 put him in form first, then the best, strongest, and most 

 nutritious food you can get. Oatmeal and strong broth, 

 gentle and slow exercise, this is the plan to put beef on his 



