The husbandman, farmer and grasier's compleat instructor. Containing choice and approved rules, and directions for breeding, feeding, chusing, buying, selling, well ordering and fatning bulls, cows, calves, rams, ews, lambs, swine, goats, asses, mules, &c. : How to know the several diseases incident to them, by their signs and symptoms, with proper remedies to cure them; : as likewise all griefs, and sorrances what-ever. : Also, a treatise of dogs, and conies, in their breeding, ordering, and curing the distempers they are subject to. : To which is added, The experienced vermine-killer, in particular directions, for taking and destroying all sorts of vermine in houses, out-houses, fields, garden, graneries, and other places. / By A.S. Gent.

Some further Observations on Dogs, as to their Breeding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Choice.

If you would have your Breach or Bitch bring a good Litter of Puppyes, keep her close as soon as you perceiu she begins to be proud, and procure a Dog to lime her suitable to your Mind, and her Inclination. The mo•• proper Months are, January, February, and March, wh•• the Moon is in the encrease. When she is proud, take th•• most favourable signs, as those of Aquarius or Gemini, t•• put the Dog to her; and let him be well chosen accordi•••• to the quality of the Bitch that is to be limed, of goo•• proportion, and free from Diseases; so that engendring •• this time, it is held that the breed will never run mad.

When the Bitch comes near her time, use her to •• Kennel designed to litter in, that she may have the bette•• Love and Agreement with it; and in her whelping, •• her be kept very warm; at two Months end, wean t•• Whelps, and if they are Hounds, enter them into hunti•••• with old stench ones, while they are about a year and h•• old, and so they will soon be trained up to every thi•• that is required of them. As for the Marks of a goo•• Hound, the white, with black Spots at the seting on •• the Tail, and black Ears, are the principal; of which •• is proper to compose your Kennel. Consider by the wa•• however, that they of a good Scent and Condition, a•• the Hounds that are black, or the all white, or all live coloured; and for the String or Line, the true Talb•••• are best: The grizled, unmixed, or mixed, so it be sh•••• haired, is fit for a good Vermin-killer; and a couple •• them are pr••per in a Kennel.

To discribe them more particularly, see that t•• Hounds Head be of a middle proportion, rather inclin〈…〉〈…〉 to long than round; with large Ears, wide Nostrils, a•••• his Back bowed; great Fillets, large Haunches, w•• trussed Thighs, streight Hams, the Tail near the Rei•• big, and the rest slender; big Legs, and a dry sole of the Foot; great Claws, formed like a Foxes.

As for their tunableness, the Experienced Hunts-man must sort them, as best delights him or others he keeps ••hem for; and for chusing the Whelps under the Bitch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will prove the swifter, and the heavier the •• on ••or▪ See your Bitch come of a good kind, be well proportioned, and have large Flanks and Ribs; and that your Dog be of a good breed, and young; for a young Dog and an old Bitch produce very good Whelps; and the ••hird Litter is always accounted the best to be preserved.

As for their feeding, there is no certain rule, but the ••ract••ce of it, they feeding on any thing that is proper ••or them; yet often to change their Diet, is wholsome: ••eed them not with too much raw Carrion, lest it breed Diseases.