FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HXJKTING 



by danger boards, but if by tactful measures the 

 farmer can be persuaded to do the right thing, the 

 way is clear immediately, whereas if you once 

 erect a danger board it is tantamount to ac- 

 knowledging defeat, and other boards will almost 

 inevitably have to follow. 



Talking of the "ware wire" sign, reminds 

 us of the yarn about the huntsman who was 

 jogging along a road lined with telegraph wires. 

 One of the field was about to jump into the road, 

 when the huntsman, fearing for the safety of his 

 hounds, called out ' ' Ware wire, sir, ware wire ! " 

 The horseman reined in, glanced at the fence, 

 then exclaimed, ' ' I don't see any wire ! " to which 

 the huntsman retorted, " L<ook 'igher up, sir, 

 look 'igher up ! " 



The greatest menace to a horseman in the 

 hunting field is the hedge through which a hidden 

 strand of wire is run. Besides the danger to 

 the rider of a severe fall, the horse gets terribly 

 cut and mutilated if the wire is barbed. 



There is absolutely no excuse for using barbed 

 wire for any agricultural enclosure, because, if 

 wire has to be used at all, smooth strands, pro- 

 perly strained up will turn any stock bred in this 

 country. A hidden strand of plain wire will of 

 course bring a horse down, but though he may 

 take an imperial toss, he will not be hideously cut 

 about by the wire. Plain wire is much more 

 easily handled and erected than barbed wire, and 

 will do all that the latter does in the way of keeping 

 in stock. The war saw the only legitimate use 

 for barbed wire, and unfortunately there is still a 

 good deal of war-store wire to be bought cheap, 

 which tempts the agriculturist to use it. 



Natural fences, such as hedges, stone walls, 

 posts and rails, or banks are jumpable with a 



240 



