The School of Recreation (1696 edition) - Or a Guide to the Most Ingenious Exercises of Hunting, - Riding, Racing, Fireworks, Military Discipline, The Science - of Defence by Robert Howlett
page 10 of 189 (05%)
page 10 of 189 (05%)
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Thus far for the Composing a Kennel: I come now to the _Kennel it self_, of which I need say little, as indeed unnecessary, leaving that to the Discretion of the _Huntsman_; only I would have him observe, that it be built some pretty way distant from the Dwelling-House, in a warm dry Place, free from Vermine, and near some Pond or River of fresh Water; and so placed, that the Morning Sun may shine upon it. Be sure to keep it clean, and let them not want fresh Straw every day. Feed them early in the Morning at Sun-rising, and at Sun-set in the Evening. As for the Meat, I leave to the ingenious Huntsman to get when they come from Hunting; after you have fed them well, let them to their Kennel, and wash their Feet with Beer and Butter, or some such thing, and pick and search their Cleys, for Thorns, Stubs, or the like: If it is in _Winter_, let a Fire be made, and let them beak and stretch themselves for an hour or so at the fire, and suffer them to lick, pick, and trim themselves; hereby to prevent the _Diseases_ incident to them, upon sudden Cooling, as the _Mange_, _Itch_, _Fevers_, &c. But before I treat of the keeping your Hounds in Health by curing their Diseases, I must speak a Word or two of the way to _Breed good Whelps_, viz. Having a Hound and a Bratch of that general Goodness in Size, Voice, Speed, Scent, and Proportion you like, put them together to ingender in _January_, _February_, or _March_, as the properest Months for Hounds, Bitches, and Bratches to be Limed in; because of not _losing time_ to enter them. When you put them together, observe, as near as you can, if the _Moon_ be in _Aquarius_ or _Gemini_; because the Whelps will then never run Mad, and the Litter will be double as many Dogs, as Bitch-Whelps. When your Bitch is near her _Whelping_, separate her from the other Hounds, and make her a Kennel particularly by her self; and see her Kennell'd every Night, that she might be acquainted and |
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