33 8 HUNTING PRELIMINARIES. 



quarters, its facilities of communication, and the position of 

 coverts, cause ground to be very unequally used, and, con- 

 sequently, what would be wholly inadequate compensation in 

 one case, would be extravagant liberality in another instance. 

 It is evident that an unequal scale of compensation would 

 be productive of more jealousy and unpleasantness, than 

 entire absence of payment for damages. 



As an act of conciliation, masters and prominent hunting 



Fig. 222. Hedge newly cut and laid, about 3 ft. 9 in. high. 



men sometimes give the services of a stallion to the farmers 

 of the district, usually on the condition that they do not 

 keep up wire during the season. In doing this, they often 

 forget to consider if the soil is suitable for the type of 

 animal they propose to be cultivated. For instance, it would 

 be hopeless to attempt to breed good hunters in many parts 

 of the Midlands, or Fen country, which is famous for the 

 production of the horse-show type of Shire animal. In 

 such parts, a Shorthorn bull would be more useful to 

 the generality of local farmers, than a thorough-bred sire. 



