202 The Farmers — Fox Preservers, &c. 



have alluded to in another place. Easton Neston 

 has always been good. Captain Hall, of Foxcote, 

 was never without foxes. Mr. Gough (of Maids- 

 moreton), Mr. Grant, Mr. Ives, Mr. Grant-Ives, 

 and many others, small proprietors, have always 

 done well. 



Mr. Vernon, of Stoke Park ; Lady Hanmer, of 

 Weston by Weedon ; Lord Ellesmere, Lord 

 Barrington, Mr. Robarts, and Mr. George 

 Campbell ; leading members of the Hunt. Sir 

 Herewald Wake and the Gunning family are, and 

 have been also good fox preservers ; and so has 

 Mr. Delap of Lillingstone Lovell. 



The statement that Fox - hunting and its 

 prospects have greatly changed during my life 

 will occasion no surprise to my readers. The 

 sport is more popular than ever, and it is a 

 question how far the increase of its popularity 

 may adversely affect it ; and much depends on 

 the support extending in due proportion with the 

 increase in the number of followers. 



" Iron " has indeed, '' entered into the soul " of 

 the hunting-grounds ! and it seems to me, now, 

 almost incredible that I can remember the time 

 when there was not an iron rail in the Countries 

 I have spoken of. How gradually and how 

 steadily railways have increased, and are still 



