THE GENESEE VALLEY 



In 1 887, a new draft came from Sir Bacfie Cunard's, now Mr. Femie's, 

 among whicfi Major Wadsworth says there were a number of most excel- 

 lent hounds, but which were rather light of tongue. To rectify this defect, 

 he bred to hounds from Lord Tredegar's and from the Duke of Beaufort's, 

 with good results, importing small drafts from time to time until 1 894 ; when 

 a friend, Captain Martin of Geneseo, picked up in England a draft from 

 the Holderness, which did the pack a lot of good. With all this good 

 material as a basis. Major Wadsworth has bred a pack second to none in 

 America, and although it suffered badly from the rabies in 1 902, he has 

 maintained its high standard of excellence. On the flags, too, he has met 

 with great success, winning at Madison Square Garden in 1 899 and 1 902, 

 with home-bred hounds, and in 1 906 and 1 907 with a mixed lot. 



The Hunt has never adopted scarlet coats, except for evening dress, and 

 although many of the Field hunt in mufti, the older members and the Hunt 

 steiff still wear the dark blue coats and buff facings and waistcoats which 

 have always been its uniform. 



The secret of Major Wadsworth's success is perhaps his thoughtful and 

 painstaking treatment of the farmers, and the firm, though kindly manner in 

 which he rules over his Field. These qualities perhaps are best epitomized 

 in his " Bible ," which is given below in full. 



Of the Farmer: 



" You have no business on a man's land, but are there by his sufferance 

 and he is entitled to every consideration. It is no excuse that you are in a 

 hurry. It is much better for the Hunt that you should be left behind than 

 that a farmer should be injured. 



" If you take down a reiil, put it back. If you open a gate, shut it. 



" If you break a fence, or do any damage which you cannot repair, you 

 should report it at once to the responsible officers of the Hunt, that it may 

 be made good. 



" Although you may feel convinced that it improves wheat to ride over 

 it, the opinion is not diffiised or popular ; and the fact that some fool has 

 gone ahead is no excuse; it only makes matters worse. 



" The spectacle of a lot of men, following another's tracks across a wheat- 



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