THE GREEN SPRING VALLEY 



Mr. Redmond C. Stewart, who lives near the latter, was elected Master 

 at the first meeting and has continued to hold that position ever since, hunt- 

 ing the hounds himself during the entire period. His brother, Mr. W. 

 Plunket Stewart, was the only whipper-in until 1 894, when Mr. H. Carroll 

 Brown was appointed second whipper-in until 1 903 ; but in 1 899, Mr. 

 Stewart appointed another whipper-in in the person of Mr. Frank A. Bonsai, 

 who took Mr. Brown's place when the latter resigned, in 1 903, and Mr. 

 Plunket Stewart's place on his resignation, in 1906. Mr. Jervis Spencer 

 was then appointed second whipper-in and since that time only two whippers- 

 in have been on the active list. 



As is the case in most southern Hunts, Mr. Stewart began by using na- 

 tive hounds, believing, as he still does, that they possessed the most suitable 

 qualities for fox-hunting in Maryland. After eight or ten years of experience, 

 however, with these hounds, he has come to the conclusion that a certain 

 amount of English blood improves the natives. 



Mr. Stewart's own words are given as follows : 



" I believe that the American hounds have the best — or the most suita- 

 ble — qualities for hunting the fox in Maryland, but thinking that by a judi- 

 cious cross vnlh English blood a hound could be bred which would have 

 just as good tongue and hunting qualities, we have used a Belvoir-bred 

 hound of Mr. Charles E. Mather's named 'Glancer,* and also a son of 

 Belvoir 'Dexter,' namely Belvoir 'Vampire,' and have bred this cross back 

 to strong native hounds. 



" We have now, we think, a useful pack, with good voices and noses and 

 much endurance, which run a fox pretty well in almost all conditions of 

 weather and are better-boned, heavier hounds and more evenly-coloured than 

 the old-fashioned native hounds. They also stand kennel discipline better. 

 Whether they are the best hounds that can be bred for our country or not, 

 I shall not be sure for some years." 



With the Green Spring Valley Hunt, cubbing begins about August 1 st, 

 and the hounds go out three days a week at 4:30 a.m. until October 1st, 

 when the regular season opens. From then on, the Tuesday meets are at 

 daybreak, and the Thursday and Saturday meets at 2:30 p. m. In addition 



51 



