POINT-TO-POINT MEETING. I97 



1912-13. 



Respecting last season, a wet winter made the ground 

 ride day after day deeper and deeper, until at last it was 

 scarcely fit to ride at all. In Leicestershire they used to 

 say " The wetter the better hounds run," but it was not so 

 this past season. Nevertheless some splendid hunts were 

 experienced, and some fine points made; hounds upon two 

 occasions, at least, coming into the Melton locality from 

 Stoughton and Alexton way, having to be trained home. 



1913=14. 



During the current season the pastures have remained 

 green right through the autumn, and with such rank 

 vegetation and blind fences, small wonder that casualties 

 have been unusually heavy. 



Owing to the numerous accidents which occurred to 

 sportsmen about fifty 3'ears ago through their coming in 

 collision with over-hanging boughs, a great many trees in 

 hedge-rows were cut down, but that it is still necessary 

 to *' prenez garde, aux branches des arbres," and exercise 

 care when fencing in their vicmity, is once more demon- 

 strated by the unfortunate, though happily not serious, 

 accident which befel the Duchess of Teck when out with 

 the Cheshire hounds a few days ago. 



Amongst other things which help to make fox-hunting 

 popular with all classes, nothing has done more in recent 

 years than the increase in the number of Point-to-Point 

 Meetings throughout the country, and whereas in former 

 days. Top Leicestershire men used to resort to the old 

 natural grand-stand of the hill side at Burrough, they 

 can now congratulate themselves upon the successful 

 inauguration of a local meeting ; a fine natural course having 

 been selected in the immediate vicinity of Ashlands (which 

 property near Billesdon has recently been acquired by Miss 

 Butler, an enthusiastic follower of hounds), to which great 

 numbers were attracted last spring, and in which it is safe 

 to prophecy an increasing interest and attendance each 

 year. 



