FENCES AND FENCING. 



309 



same fashion whether it is made or whether it was planted and 

 grew. The question is, indeed, not only one of fences them- 

 selves, but of the ground between fences. 



In the * fair hunting country ' there are spaces of good 

 galloping ground, smooth sound turf, free from ridge and 

 furrow or any sort of traps ; but in other portions of the course 

 inequalities in the fields necessitate circumspection, which 

 means moderation of speed : if there be a ditch on the taking- 



off side its position is indicated by the growth about its edge ; 

 men have not to race over a course almost as smooth as a 

 billiard-table, to such traps as an abruptly cut ditch before a 

 fence, into which Lottery would very likely have fallen. 



The easiest course is usually the most dangerous. If the 

 going is good, and the fences are small, the horses will gallop 

 over the jumps in a way which makes each leap a risk. To a 

 certain extent horses must, to employ this easily comprehensible 

 term, gallop over their fences ; but this by no means signifies 



