CHAPTER IV 

 The Farmer 



Pessimists tell us that fox-hunting will not last 

 many years ; but as the number of people who 

 hunt increases every season, I do not think we 

 need pay much attention to this doleful view. It 

 may be that this increasing popularity will neces- 

 sitate the sport being carried on in a different 

 manner, but I do not believe that time has yet 

 arrived, and to anticipate it would be a mistake. 



The relations between those who hunt and those 

 who provide the land to be hunted over are 

 occasionally rather strained, but I think things go 

 fairly smoothly as a rule. Sometimes a thought- 

 less fool forgets that we hunt only by the courtesy 

 of the farmer, and annoys him in some way or 

 does some unnecessary damage ; but most men 



