114 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



that kind, insures it being drawn blank for weeks, 

 if not months. Moderately-sized coverts ought 

 not to be visited by hounds oftener than once a 

 month, and of big woods it may be said as of 

 walnut-trees, in the old couplet, " the more you 

 beat them the better they he." We are disinclined 

 to believe that women or spaniels would be much 

 improved in disposition by severe chastisement. 

 "Walnut-trees may be benefited by it, for any- 

 thing we know to the contrary, and some large 

 woodlands admit of being knocked about once a 

 week with advantage. 



During Mr. Ward's tenancy of the Craven 

 country, there was a large covert lying on the 

 outskirts, called Southgrove, which, being a con- 

 siderable distance from the kennels, then located at 

 Hungerford, was rarely drawn by his hounds in 

 the regular season ; in fact it was used principally 

 for cub-huntiiig, and as a dernier ressort in the 

 spring of the year, when a May fox, or half-a- 

 dozen, might be safely killed, without doing the 

 slightest injury to the prospects of sjDOrt for the 

 ensuing season. Consequently, upon foxes being 

 allowed to hold their own places with so little 

 interruption, Southgrove became a kind of elysium, 

 where the vulpine race congregated in large num- 

 bers to enjoy their otium, and when disturbed 

 at long intervals, they played their cards so well 

 on the reciprocity system of mutual assistance, 

 that the hounds were beaten long before any of 

 the fraternity could be brought to hand ; in short, 

 there was a pack of foxes on foot to contend with 



