64 HUNTING 



and his horse gets away, even if it happens in the 

 middle of a quick run. Don't ride in front of him if 

 he be a hard riding man. Should his remarks be 

 occasionally severe, remember that he has to manage 

 the whole field, sometimes numbering over two 

 hundred people, and in fashionable hunts approach- 

 ing to five hundred, and that -it is his object to show 

 them as much sport as possible. 



The next precept, which it is our duty to inculcate, 

 relates to the farmers. We assume without fear of 

 contradiction that the existence of fox-hunting is 

 dependent upon the goodwill of the landowners and 

 tenant farmers. Yet this fact, patent as it must be to 

 everybody, is constantly forgotten by hunting men, 

 who often treat the farmers with scant consideration. 

 It is the Cockney sportsman who is the greatest sinner 

 in this respect. Having no practical knowledge of 

 agriculture, he leaves gates open, breaks down fences 

 unnecessarily, and rides over growing wheat with 

 indifference to the damasje which he causes. He is 

 a perpetual thorn in the side of the M.F.H., who knows 

 full well that he is rendering useless his own efforts 

 to propitiate the farmers. Finally, he often commits 

 the unpardonable error of attempting to snub the 

 farmer. We will do him the justice to believe that 

 he does not mean to be guilty of insolence, but his 

 ignorance may be as exasperating as if it were insolence. 

 The following practical rules should be strictly ad- 

 hered to : 



1. Never leave a gate open, unless there is somebody 

 immediately behind. The effect of gates being 

 left open is that cattle may, and probably 

 will, stray all over the country, though in what 



