44 



and being still lovers of the sport, would never dream of 

 making a complaint to the hunt secretary. Is it not, 

 therefore, up to those who can afford to give long prices 

 for horses, to see that these good sportsmen are not 

 annoyed by wanton damage ? A Uttle thought for 

 others, a Uttle care when in pursuit of our pleasure, and 

 we shall always retain that good feeling which should 

 exist between those who hunt and those who provide 

 the ground to hunt over. 



Everyone who has given the matter any thought must 

 be fully aware of the monetary value of hunting to the 

 country at large, but though reaping the reward with 

 the rest of the community, the farmer gets no direct 

 benefit. A very small percentage may sell odd hay- 

 stacks and a few quarters of oats. In a grazing country 

 a farm cannot be run on the chance of being able to sell 

 hay, that commodity being grown and made for feeding 

 cattle in the winter. With a mild winter much less hay 

 is consumed and there is some left for the fox-hunter the 

 following season. If hay of good quahty is to be bought 

 in the district where a man intends to hunt, he should 

 most certainly buy it direct from the farmer and not 

 send for it elsewhere. Let him give a good price and 

 not haggle over it. One or two pounds a ton may be 

 paid beyond market price, but a hunter consumes such 

 a small amount that this extra cost will mean very little. 

 Farmers, as a rule, are not as particular in their hay- 

 making as they might be, and it would perhaps be a good 

 thing if the master offered a substantial prize each year 

 for the best sample grown within the limits of the hunt. 

 I mean by a prize not a silver cup but a good fat cheque 

 which would be of some use to the winner. The idea is 

 worth the consideration of masters, as, in addition to 

 encouraging farmers to exercise greater care in hay- 



