FARMING AND FOXHUNTING 



The hay-crop was particularly short. That year 

 one small hayrick was made in the lower meadows 

 for the cows the following winter, and that we 

 gathered together with hand-rakes, it was so short 

 and thin. 



Harvest too was quickly gathered. One reason 

 being that the autumn manoeuvres were being held 

 on the surrounding Downs. Sir John French had 

 a great cavalry charge on the Ashdown slopes 

 which still lives in the memory of local people, who 

 will recall that parched-up summer when soldiers 

 were more in evidence than hayricks. When the 

 " Cease fire " sounded at 4 p.m., Goate Reservoir 

 and the nearest water were some way off for the 

 thirsty horses. Sir John gave us of his best that 

 day, as he did again on a later one in the South 

 African War. 



12 



