228 TEN YEARS OF GAME-KEEPING 
The question of beer and beaters is important. 
Many beaters, if they got the chance, would drink 
considerably more than four glasses at lunch-time 
or any other time. But I have come to the con- 
clusion that the most satisfactory all-round load is 
four glasses. A heavier is inclined to clog the 
intelligence of the ordinary beater, and to make 
him mouthy, with an irrepressible desire to give 
tongue at sight or sound of game. It is no bad 
plan to offer a glass of beer and morsel of bread 
and cheese to each beater who turns up punctually 
in the morning, and, if only in the interest of good 
beating, can both eat and drink before one o'clock. 
Many of your beaters will have had an early 
breakfast (without ham or eggs) and a long walk ; 
and, besides, they are accustomed to dine at noon. 
I cannot too strongly condemn a foolishly liberal 
supply of beer. Certainly I have heard of men 
who, unless they were drunk, could not perform 
various feats, but I never have known a man 
to beat any better for too much beer. A keeper 
acquaintance had an awkward experience with his 
beaters. Their lunch was supplied from a public- 
house, and whoever was told off to put their beer 
into jars put it into some half full of gin. There 
was no shooting after lunch. I knew of a shoot 
where each beater was saturated with two quarts 
of beer before starting; during the day jars fre- 
quently were broached, and at night, as one beater 
