204 Tke Farmers — Fox Preservers^ &c. 



There are thousands of acres cleared which grew 

 the thickest underwood when I first hunted in the 

 Forest, and now yield an opening for hounds to 

 act freely and shew excellent sport. 



Salcey Forest in days gone by was a thicket 

 from one end to the other ; there were deep 

 ditches to bafifle hounds in every quarter. On 

 account of the great growth of young oak timber 

 the underwood has been destroyed, which enables 

 hounds to work and press the foxes. 



Surly old Bucknells, which rarely holds a scent, 

 has been greatly modernised in my time. I have 

 a lively recollection of following George Carter 

 through the only driftway there was in it. It has 

 now eight ridings pointing to the centre and 

 extending to the outside fence, with many cross- 

 ridings ; but it is a curious fact that the foxes will 

 not avail themselves of the open running thev 

 might have in them, but persist in running the 

 Covert, which is a very bad scenting one. Of 

 the many huntsmen I have seen in those woods, I 

 never knew one to speak well of them. To give 

 the place its due, many good runs have been seen 

 in it, and on a few occasions from it. I have 

 seen a fox run from it to Fawsley. Lord South- 

 ampton used to pay visits to shoot with other 

 noblemen ; we always used to know when his 



